Memorial Day is a day when we must put things in perspective. The following email has been making the rounds this week, and in case you haven't read it, I'm including it here so that you'll know why Memorial Day is special.

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOMEWhen a soldier comes home, he finds it hard........to listen to his son whine about being bored.....to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.....to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.....to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.....to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.....to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.....to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.....to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.....to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.....to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.....to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.....to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.....to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.....to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.The only thing harder than being a Soldier ... Is loving one.And speaking of perspective, the people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1992. And this means:They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.Their lifetime has always included AIDS.Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.The CD was introduced two years before they were born.They have always had an answering machine.They have always had cable.They cannot fathom not having a remote control.Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane, Boss, de plane. "They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.And finally, a little humor about jobs, sent by a reader who had his tongue firmly embedded in his cheek.1. My first job was working in an Orange Juice factory, but I got canned. Couldn't concentrate.2. Then I worked in the woods as a Lumberjack, but just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the ax.3. After that, I tried being a Tailor, but wasn't suited for it mainly because it was a sew-sew job.4. Next, I tried working at a Muffler shop, but that was just too exhausting.5. Then, tried being a Chef figured it would add a little spice to my life, but just didn't have the thyme.6. Next, I attempted being a Deli Worker, but any way I sliced it,?... I couldn't cut the mustard.7. My best job was a Musician, but eventually found I wasn't noteworthy.8. I studied a long time to become a Doctor, but didn't have any patience.9. Next, was a job in a Shoe Factory. Tried hard but just didn't fit in.10. I became a Professional Fisherman, but discovered I couldn't live on my net income.11. Managed to get a good job working for a Pool Maintenance Company, but the work was just too draining.12. So then I got a job in a Workout Center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job.13. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a Historian until I realized there was no future in it.14. My last job was working in Starbucks, but had to quit because it was the same old grind.