fashion styles women: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Heart Divided

Happy Memorial Day to you all!

*thanks tumblr*

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! I'm getting a late start on posting this week, as I have had tons going on lately. Lucky for you a good bit of it deals with new products for the Embellished shop! I will report more on that soon, but in honor of Memorial Day I thought this would be the perfect moment to start a new series: Heart Divided.

Upon arriving here in France I immediately (and naturally) formed a list of everything I missed from the States. Now that I've been here for 8 months I have a second list of things I know I wish I could bring back with me when I finally move home. I hope you enjoying learning a bit about the goods of other cultures, and learn to also appreciate the wealth that rests around you!

Memorial Day was of course Monday, I realized this...Sunday night. There are lots of things that I just don't have pushed in my face on every billboard anymore, therefore I am constantly playing catch up. For all the recent political changes, entertainment buzz, and even little things like American Idol, I have to devote time to researching to try and stay adrift in my own country. There aren't commercials on TV in France like in the States, the commercialism is much more played down. That of course has good and bad points, but alas I will unavoidably cover those very soon.

On the flip side, it is really interesting to be cognizant of so much that goes on outside the States. I feel much more informed, much more intellectual, and as an educated person I enjoy learning other people's cultures and points of view (whether I agree with them or not).

What's your International Know-How?

Memorial Day

*my Grandpa Jack, who served in the Korean War and did a lot of guard duty (running joke)*

We were at a little restaurant and saw an elderly man wearing his retired vet hat with all of is service info on it. My husband went up to him and asked about it. He told us he was a front line infantryman in both Nazi Germany and the Korean War. A very nice, quiet and kind man, with a subtle pride and humbleness. We gave him our thanks and shook his hand. He and his wife were touched... so were we.

*my little brother Jae, in special ops in aviation electronics, on the way to bootcamp*

So, a giant, respectful hug and thank you to the men and women who have served, and are currently serving in the military. For those who have died, those who have been injured, those who have experienced things we could never imagine and gave up some of their freedoms, so that we could have ours. A thank you to the husbands, wives, parents and children of those who say goodbye to their loved ones and wait every day to hear if they are safe.

*my dad, who was a Ranger, sharp shooter and 2nd lieutenant, in this ROTC at BYU pic around 1976*

No matter what our personal opinions are about certain conflicts and politics, we should at the very least recognize that there are people willing to leave their families, homes, and comfort in order with the possibility of tragic ends in order to do what they feel is best for our country.

So, I salute you and hope and pray, that wherever you are in this world, that you and your family have peace.

* You may be surprised to know, that when I was 17 or 18, I was in the process of signing up for the military. I was home alone, with the recruiter sitting at my kitchen table, laptop out and I was taking some type of an entrance exam and filling out paperwork. Then, my mom walked in the door, started freaking out... and that was the end of that. Interesting how my life would have been so different had I joined.

**A few years ago, I was starting to write a book on the stories of these heroes before they passed on, never to have their stories told. I was preparing to go and interview veterans at the VA hospitals and nursing homes. Perhaps I will pick up this project again one we are settled, as time is running out. Remembering the past has always been very important to me, (many ladies played an important part as well).. Years ago, when my father was receiving treatment at the VA, we met Dan Illerich who was rescued by headhunters after being shot down in WWII, and were fascinated by his story. You can watch his story here, or see the image gallery here of the story that just aired on pbs the other day, to our surprise.

***For interesting reading, you may enjoy the short starvation experiment log by Lester Glick, that occurred in the University of Minnesota starvation experiment in 1944.