Friday, September 28, 2001
I often like to write my posts in the evening, since by then everybody has gone to sleep, and I have a chance to relax, unwind, and write. But of late little Annie has been wakeful in the evenings, so I am often unable even to reply to the personal emails that have accumulated during the day. Despite not being able to write as much, being a new Dad again has its benefits. Spent a long time last night having a wonderful "conversation" with my coo-ing two-month old daughter. "Ooo". "Ahhh". That and lots of smiles made for a happy evening prior to bedding down for the night.
The Somme and Me
Last night, while Annie was beginning to nod off while downing her bottle of milk, I watched a show on History Television about the battle of the Somme during WWI. Was interested because this was the battle in which my maternal Grandfather was wounded. An amazing and arguably criminal waste of lives -- I am amazed that the judgment on General Haig is not harsher than it is.
One stray thought entered my head as I was watching the show: in part I am here because of the Battle of the Somme. My maternal grandfather was wounded during the battle, enough so that he couldn't return to the front lines, and was sent home to do guard duty around the Royal Palaces. While taking a night course -- still during the war -- he met his future wife-to-be. I very much doubt he would have met her under any other circumstance, so oddly enough my Mother, Uncle, cousins and myself (and my children) quite possibly owe our existence to an injury sustained by my maternal Grandfather during this battle.
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