I typically pride myself in my level of stoicism. I can typically rein in my emotions and keep from devolving into a blithering idiot until I find myself alone in most instances.

The first time I saw this photograph all bets were off. There are a couple of shots in the series from two perspectives ...
 

I think I've boo-hooed over this scene more times than I can count. Typically on memorial days or considering my late biological and step fathers. It instills a sadness that permeates the entirety of my being.

It is a photograph of a child next to his mother accepting the flag which draped the casket of his military father, obviously fallen.

That I could reach out and comfort this child would have made the scene less traumatic for me personally. This type of situation exposes one of the few soft spots in me as far as I know.

May 13th is Children of Fallen Patriots Day.

The vast numbers of children who have lost parents to military conflict is at once both tragic and infuriating.

Children of Fallen Patriots Day exists to honor these children and raise awareness of the sacrifices and struggles they have and do endure in the wake of their parents death.

These children had no choice in the matter for which they suffer a tremendous loss — and my heart goes out to them.
 

This one is personally problematic. I am a self avowed chocoholic. I like chocolate to the point that it is detrimental to my health. I just at a number of pieces of chocolate candy and now suffer quite the frontal scalp acne break out.

Each May 12 we have National Nutty Fudge Day. It contains both chocolate and nuts, one of my most favorite combinations.

The varieties and flavors of fudge are many and varied with chocolate being the most popular by far. Hence, I am not alone in my desire to consume the deliciousness of chocolate and fudge. Of course, the tastes are pretty irresistable for me personally.

Walnuts and pecans in chocolate fudge drive me bonkers. Home made fudge will place you on my A list pretty much without exception.

So whether you like chocolate fudge or some other flavor I hope that National Nutty Fudge Day finds you tempted to a fairthewell.
 

When I was a youngster there were farm animals in my midst. Among those there were various fowl including ducks and chickens. Some of the chickens were intimidating because they wanted you to think they could kick your butt if need be. It was an idyllic life where I knew my place and respected their boundaries.

I recall that the chicken houses operated on my uncle's farm became a murderous rampage by him and his family as they harvested dozens of birds to put in the freezer.

I also recall one day the chicken people came early and caught them in the act.

I don't know what those consequences were but it was a shocking spectacle which made me cry.

Nowadays I am pretty brazen to random acts of violence. Who wouldn't be with children popping caps in anyone and everyone due to the ineffective nature of both their parenting (or lack thereof) as well as law inforcement failure to intervene prior to the fact.

Today is International Respect For Chickens Day. It is a day to promote compassionate treatment of chickens and other domestic fowl. We have a chicken processing plant in the middle of the river front resort area because the insipid inbred management of the city hasn't forced their relocation. I don't exactly get the idea of the place being very merciful and the offal odor eminating from Sunset BL at the Jarvis Klapman bridge screams of death and decay.

So when you pick that fryer out out of the cooler at the grocery store you might want to give how that bird got there a moment of consideration.

I really don't think United Poultry Concerns has true compassion for the plight of food animals.