A few months ago, I reported that I was starting a "boot camp" exercise class and that I would update you about that. I haven't - not because I haven't gone, but because I've taken it seriously enough that I don't have anything wry or facetious to say about it. In fact, I had boot camp tonight and it kicked my ass.
Probably not as much as real boot camp would kick my ass though. Reflecting on Veterans' Day today, I struggled to name even a handful of my friends and peers who have served in the military. Mine must be the first generation in history to claim that. We might be the last generation to claim it, too, given the number of people younger than I am who have enlisted and served during two wars in the past 8 years.
Part of me wants to go on a ramble here about Ehrenreich's Blood Rites (a really good book). But in honor of Veterans' Day, I'll just leave it at this. I am grateful to the men and women who serve in the military so that the rest of us don't have to, and for their sacrifices, which I doubt I can match off the battle field in any way.
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I spent (the end of) Veterans' Day lying on the sofa watching "The Way We Get By", a documentary on PBS, but it is/has played in some theaters. See it. It focuses on 3 elderly Mainers who are part of the volunteer troop greeters at Bangor airport where many of the military flights stop for a refueling to and from Iraq and Afgahanistan. It has the Maine straight-on honesty and warmth. Just for the story-within-a story about Flanagan the dog, watch it. Made me proud of my little connection to Maine.
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