Veteran's Day, 2009 - middle of the week - spent the day occupied with house chores, DC visit and the pool but my mind was focused on what i am thankful for and for whom i need to pray: family (always at the forefront), a friend's brother who, today, discovered his cancer is inoperable, an employee's sister's suicide weighs heavily on her, a neighbor's illness and unknown cause, my country - i am thankful that i can write these words, express these thoughts, pray my prayers without worrying who will come to arrest me - for these freedoms of mine came at a high price