The month of May is a great transition month. We’ve had our share of lousy weather and temps but, with a touch of summer, the last part of this past week was intoxicating. We started the week with flurries and, by the end of the week, summer attire was in order.
As far as I’m concerned, May is a month that could last more than 31 days. I wish May could last for two months for a lot of reasons. It’s one of those months where you don’t need your furnace churning and you don’t need your air conditioning running, either.
In May, we finally (I hope) can say good-bye to winter for at least six months.
The trees and flowers begin to bloom while the grass gets some much-needed color. With winter holding on so late, it seems everything is blossoming a bit later than usual. I’ve missed color in the landscape.
Usually, the 2018 West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival holds the event without trees in blossom as they usually bloom prior to the first weekend in May. With the summer-like temperatures in the middle of the week, the cherry trees are trying to bud at the time I’m penning this column. I hope they bloom for the festival.
Today is the last day for the festival starting at noon and ending at 5 p.m., so get out there for food and entertainment.
May has a few noteworthy dates with Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13; Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 19; and Memorial Day on Monday, May 28.
The month of May always signifies a great month to be a patriot. My dad worked at Tobyhanna Army Depot where he got involved in Armed Forces Week. For the entire week, the Army Depot would have tours for civilians, as well as holding the Armed Forces Pageant.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a very impressive facility in both size and number of employees. At one time, my father, brother, sister, cousin and brother-in-law were all employed there. My cousin is the only family member still on the payroll and retirement isn’t too far away for him.
Dad took me to the depot on a few occasions during Armed Forces Week and it never failed to amaze me how many people he knew there. At one time, he spent two years as the Commander of the Veterans Council. To me, that was like being class president.
With Memorial Day closing out the month, we honor all those who served as members of the Armed Services. Greater Pittston will have three parades on Memorial Day: West Pittston/Exeter, Wyoming/West Wyoming and Dupont.
The Wyoming/West Wyoming parade steps off at 9:15 a.m. and conclude with a ceremony at the Wyoming Cemetery .
The Dupont Parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.
The West Pittston/Exeter parade begins at 11:30 a.m. concluding at Wyoming Area Catholic School with special guest speaker Brig. Gen. Anthony (Tony) Carrelli, Deputy Adjutant Gen. PA National Guard. For those who are not up on military lingo, Brig. Gen. Carrelli is the top person in the National Guard in the state of Pennsylvania.
Our good friend and veteran Ron Gitkos always reminds me to mention to all readers to proudly display the American flag during this month, in particular.
For auto racing fans, the month of May is huge for Indy car racing. The entire month is dedicated to practicing for not just one, but two races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
For Danica Patrick fans, she will run her final competitive race, closing out her career at the 102nd Indy 500. She began her career running open-wheel racing before moving over to the NASCAR circuit and now closing it out on Sunday, May 27.
Danica, 36, is a national phenomena and maybe a global celebrity. She’s taking a final bow from racing at the end of the month. She has been an inspiration to all women competing in a predominantly male sport.
She gave it her all, never took any guff from anyone despite her 5’2,” 100 lb. stature. When she wanted to race at an early age, her parents never discouraged her.
At the age of 16, she moved to England to advance her racing career for a three-year period. Her story is quite remarkable.
I’ll be glued to the TV come Indy 500 day.
As I mentioned, next Sunday is Mother’s Day. This will be my third without my mother and it doesn’t get any easier.
When you’re growing up, you take your parents for granted and sometimes you look at them as the bad guys. We thought we were smarter, funnier and more popular than them and thought they never had a social life. Fast forward a bunch of years when you realize how wrong we were.
If your mom is still with you, make a big deal of the day for her.
So it’s a busy month, a month of great transition, a month of reflection, a month of celebration and a month to be proud to be an American.
Quote of the week
“Regardless of who you are or what you have been, you can be what you want to be.” – W. Clement Stone, American author
Thought of the week
“I have noticed that when things happen in one’s imagination, they never happen in one’s life.” – Dodie Smith, English author
Bumper sticker
“In order to be happy, think of the ills you have been spared.” – Joseph Joubert, French essayist
