When I was a kid my mom never made a big deal about Memorial Day so I never gave it much thought until a few years ago. My mother didn't work for a big company so she never had paid holidays (she was a vocalist/singer). We didn't have any family who died in the wars especially since her family was of the Salvation Army not the military. So, when my birthday rolled around and I was usually disappointed that more kids didn't come and didn't understand that it was mostly because it was always on or very near Memorial Day and that their families were observing that occasion.
Even when I became an adult the same thing would happen and for years I took it personally (bad attitude). So, after my 50th birthday I decided to celebrate just once every decade. My 60th birthday observance was a crazy 10k scramble up the black diamond ski run at White Pass, WA. great fun.
But now I am living in Mexico with the love of my life and here they won't let a birthday go by unnoticed and the best part is that they don't observe Memorial Day here. Another win/win for me.
My great grandson Lucas was born on Labor Day weekend and I will try to help him understand what that means both personal and the significance of the day.

Grandfathers and other ancestors ....

I never got to meet my father's father because Grandpa Lon Walls died in 1939, seven years before I was born. My mother's father, Grandpa Fox was a huge, positive influence on my life and I hold his memory near and dear to my heart. Great grandfather John Fox died in 1931 so I never got to meet any of my great grandfathers but while studying our family through genealogy research I feel that I know at least something of their lives.

Great, great grandfather Walls was named Zachariah and I believe he was born in Virginia about 1799, but I haven't been able to confirm that as yet. He raised his family in Nicholas County, Kentucky in the early 1800's. His last child, of the 13 I have found, was great grandpa Edgar, born 1852. The family made their way from Kentucky to central Missouri where Edgar married Sophronia Woody. They continued their migration into west Missouri and grandfather Alonzo (Lon) Walls was born in Butler, Bates County, Missouri in August of 1881. The family settled a second location in Cedar Creek, Taney County, Missouri, about 15 miles east of Branson. From there they continued moving southwest and passed through Dallas, Texas about 1900, eventually settling in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas and that is where my father was born, May 23, 1909. His name was DeMarquis Walls and he died in 1989.  My grandson, Kristian DeMarquis Walls, was born April 23, 1990 so he never got to meet his great grandfather either.

The reason for this waxing nostalgia is because I am soon to become a living great grandfather and I hope that I will live long enough to become a living memory to a boy whos name will be Lucas Sky Walls and he should take his first breath in early October, 2013 (and yes, I am excited about that).
UPDATE: Lucas was born August 31, 2013 - weight 5 lbs. He arrived early but is healthy.

Note: Three generations of Walls men are buried in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas; Edgar, Lon and DeMarquis.

Kicked out of Mexico .... Sept 1, 2013

Things have been very busy in my little and my mind has been occupied with the excitement of Kris and Amanda expecting their first child, so I overlooked the renewal of my "resident visa" by 3 days. Ouch. That's a $100 usd fine and I was told that I had 20 days to leave the country (in order to get a new visa).
The very next day my great grandson Lucas Sky Walls was born so I bought a ticket for a flight to Portland.
I will have to start the visa process all over again but, as always, I'm sure there is a reason for it.