I mean, who knew that I would be writing about Memorial Day on Memorial Day? This truly is one of the most incredible things I've ever done. I guess the thing to do would be talk about the history of Memorial Day, followed by a few of the traditions that have come about and how people celebrate.

It's what a good blogger would do.

But I'm not falling into that trap. I figure that those people who are smart enough to be reading this blog are smart enough to google "Memorial Day." And if you're not, here you go. There's also this, and this, and this. That should get you through.

Instead, I wanted to blog about what Memorial Day means to me.

I was (un)lucky enough to have spent over 8 years in the military, and was even able to go overseas and sweat for a year in a foreign country. It was hot. I made a lot of friends, and a lot of us are still unstable. Iraq may or may not have had anything to do with that. People who enlist tend to be a bit crazy anyway.

Trust me.

But at the risk of sounding sappy, I am glad we have this holiday, and not just because it's a three day weekend. See, Veteran's Day is in November. That's where we remember all those who served our country. They deserve it. Too long hours spent too far away from home for too little pay. But Memorial Day is different. This is when we honor those who weren't fortunate enough to make it back home and start a random blog where they can complain about anything.

But that's not all.

Somewhere along the lines, we started to honor all of our dead. Those who passed on before us. And here's the thing: that's okay. Maybe it's just the history nerd in me, but it's important that we remember those who have gone before us. After all, if they hadn't then we wouldn't have come later.

So yes, thank a veteran. Then, thank your parents. Spend some time learning/thinking about those who went before you. Blah, blah, blah, those who don't learn from the past are destined to repeat it, blah, blah, blah.

And let's hear it for all the cub/boy/girl scouts who are out putting flags on street corners and tombstones. Buy them a hot dog or something.