memorial day weekend

Over the weekend was my cousin's birthday so we celebrated by all going out to dinner. The night before all us family went out we had a surprise party for Dhruv(my cousin) at our friend's house. We invited about 30 people and told them specifically that it was a surprise and to get there by six. By eight about 15 people had come. Luckily he was out and distracted til 8:30 by which time mostly everyone had gotten there. One of Dhruv's friends Charlie was there. He came back from Iraq 3 months ago. He was in the Marines. I was talking to him about it and he talked but wouldn' give any details. We were all drinking and feeling pretty good and still he wouldn't talk about it. He said it was intense and it changed his life. It seems like Memorial Day has lost it's value. It meant something in the 20th century when half a century was dedicated to wars and millions died. Now it's not like that so the masses don't feel the impact of this day they once would have. My cousin's dad was in the Indian Army when he lived in India. This day doesn't mean much to him other than having a day off. It seems like that's what this day has become. I nice day to go shopping. I don't mind it at all, but it's interesting to see the transition from a day of remembering to a day of shopping.