Memorial Day Thoughts

This weekend will be filled with  tons of activities including gardening, swimming, home renovation projects, BBQ's, concerts, movies, family and friends and maybe travel. A few things to think about as we "busily relax" over the long weekend:

1. If you are at a beach or pool, wear sunscreen at least SPF 30 and sunglasses, stay hydrated and avoid alcohol in peak heat hours. If kids are present, stay off your phone and designate someone to watch them at all times. Give your eyes and ears their undivided attention. Try to avoid the sun at it's hottest/strongest rays between 11-4 pm.

2. Try to garden in the early am before 10 am or after 5 pm. Your tolerance, skin and  energy will be better and your plants if they are being planted/transplanted, will appreciate you. Keep them and yourself hydrated. Wear a wide rimmed hat, SPF 30 sunscreen and sunglasses. Avoid inhaling insecticides etc by wearing a HEPPA mask if applying to your lawn and wear gloves and wash your hands immediately after handling hazardous products.

3. During BBQ's  designate one person to do the grilling. Keep kids, pets away from hot surfaces. Use a different plate  and utensils for raw meat and cooked meat to avoid contamination and food poisoning. Wash your hands if you are preparing or touching foods especially if they are raw when prepped. If you serve foods with mayo, keep them cool /cold on a bed on ice & covered away from the sun. It's best to bring out and put away mayo  containing dishes/sides right before and after you are ready to eat. Refrigerate all hot food and mayo containing foods away within 1 hour of cooking them to avoid food born illnesses. Don't leave and dishes outside without a cooling mechanism for more than 2 hours. Regarding alcohol, if you are the host serving, you are responsible for how much alcohol is consumed and any bad outcomes related to that re: accidents. Withhold alcohol with someone who's behavior makes you believe they are intoxicated. Do not let that person drive home. Designate someone to drive/take them home, call an Uber, or let them sleep it off on your basement couch. The sun and alcohol can be bad actors and deadly together.

4. Home Improvement/Renovations /painting etc. Wear a special mask/aerator to avoid breathing toxic fumes of alcohol's, turpentine, solvents, cleaners and paints and  goggles if you are sanding, doing demolition or painting. Keep doors/windows open if at all possible spray paint/sand outside but still wear a mask. Careful if moving heavy objects . Lift and bend the knees verse using your back, hold the item close to your body. ONLY THEN TURN AND PIVOT. NEVER LIFT AND ROTATE AT THE SAME TIME.

5. Traveling to see friends/loved one's. Get a good night's sleep the night before. Pack snacks and water for people and pets in the car to minimize needing to stop frequently and to save money. Try to leave early in the am at dawn to beat the traffic and craziness and volume that occurs later in the day. Have plenty of water and check your oil and tire pressure and fill your gas tank up before you hit the road the day ahead of your trip. Make sure your car insurance and road side assistance and registration are all up to date--you never know. Try to avoiding driving in the left lane and let people pass. Avoid aggressive drivers and get out of their way verses letting them piss you off and speeding up, yelling  or making gestures or having eye contact.   If you see someone aggressive or weaving who appears they might be drunk, stay behind them and call police to increase safety for all on the road.

6. If at an outdoor venue /concert, BBQ, avoid wearing dark clothes. Mosquitoes are attracted to them because they retain heat. Wear blue, green, violet and white which mosquitos  tend to not like.  Try lighting citronella candles/torches if hosting an BBQ or event that will last until dusk/dark. Also try wearing bug spray or Citronella bug bands on your arms and legs. They are non toxic and are good at keeping the bugs away. You can wear them gardening in the early am and late pm when the bugs come out to feast on you and party.

Finally lets truly remember what this holiday is about. It’s not just a free day off and another extended weekend. It is to commemorate and honor those military members and families of these beloved, faithful , brave  patriots,  that paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for you and I to be able to live in  this country and be free and have freedom of speech and blessings  of liberty and the pursuit off happiness. PBS every year broadcasts a beautiful Memorial Day Concert at the Capital. It its usually aired on Saturday night and showcases many stories of the brave men and women  that have fought in all of our wars. It is truly inspirational and I cry watching it every year. I encourage you to watch as well!!!

Regardless of what side of the political isle you reside these day, lets come together  this Memorial Day as one nation, one people, one heart and be truly thankful for the sacrifice of these brave men and women and their families and let us remember them always, not just on Memorial Day. Our freedom and liberties exist because since 1776, our soldiers through all of our wars and combat missions, have fought to defend and keep alive our democracy by paying the ultimate sacrifice of bravery and commitment to our nation, with their lives. Let us not forget how fragile human life, our planet, nature and our democracy are. G-d bless these United States of America, and as a first generation American, despite our recent political unrest, this is still one of the greatest nations in the world. We still have much to improve, but lets keep our minds, bodies and spirits open to the possibilities that we can still dialogue and create an environment that is free and tolerant  with liberty and justice for all! Wishing everyone blessings and a safe and meaningful, and enjoyable holiday weekend.