Hanging Out With One of Rosie the Riveters

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Love the life you have while you create the life of your dreams.
Don't think you have to choose one over the other.
​Hal Elrod

by Skip Cohen

I rarely know what I want to write about when I sit down at the computer on Sunday mornings, which is the fun part of Sunday Morning Reflections for me.

Last night, Sheila and I attended a military dinner honoring veterans from a unique special operations event that took place in Europe during WWII. The special guest was 99-year old Mae Krier. Mae was one of the "Rosie the Riveters." She's remarkable and anything but a frail little old lady! She clearly represents a person with a purpose; focused and appreciative of life and everyone around her.

One of the dreams she's been chasing is a memorial in D.C. honoring the women who came into the workforce and helped save America during WWII. At 17, she went to work at Boeing in 1943, helping to build B-17 and B-29 bombers.  On April 10, 2024, Mae was given the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all the women who supported the war effort.

But this morning's post isn't just about Mae Krier. This is one of those mornings where several different thoughts are bouncing around in my head and all converging at the same time.

First, while the event last night focused on Europe in WWII, Mae Krier's efforts brought support to both the European and Pacific theaters. Today is December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. The bombing of Pearl Harbor brought my Dad and his generation into the war. My Dad flew B-17s and would have loved hanging out with "Rosie," not to mention so many young members of the military currently serving who were there last night.

Second, Raya Kenney had a vision of a memorial to honor the women of the home front workforce during WWII. She was in fifth grade when she first wrote to Mae. With a lot of help, that dream is scheduled for congressional review this month. There's no doubt in my mind that they'll succeed in the support they need for a memorial in D.C.

Last but not least is the quote, author Lou Mitchell, shared for yesterday's motivational reading. He went on to write:

Loving your current life doesn't mean settling; it means appreciating what you have as you strive for more. By embracing gratitude for the present, you can find your journey toward your dreams with positivity and purpose. Balancing gratitude and ambition allows you to enjoy each step of your journey, creating a fulfilling and harmonious life.

That quote fits "Rosie the Riveter" and so many of the people I admire most, both historically and contemporarily. None of us have to give up our dreams, just appreciate the journey, even when our path changes. You know how to hold focus with a camera in your hands. It's no different for your dreams and the vision for your life each day and into the future.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that keeps you focused on your dreams and the "village" it takes for each vision to become reality. We can't achieve our goals entirely on our own - it takes the support and love of those special people around us, both family and friends. And they all deserve those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about.

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

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