What a wonderful way to spend a Memorial Day: Riding on a Harley, to a National Monument, and a BBQ with family. All with the complete sense of freedom and safety.

This post is on the serious side, folks, but I feel the need to describe to you what I learned. Those things above would not be possible without the selfless dedication of our American Troops. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen, the men and women serving away from their families, and all the men and women past, present and future who’ve kept and continue to keep this country free.

Thank you all for your service. And thank you to the families who endure the separation so their loved ones may serve.”

Amazing Grace by LeAnn Rimes. I don’t know who created the clip.

This is how I spent my Memorial Day: I had the privilege of riding in a Harley with a friend to Pinnacles National Monument. I got to eat an abundance of food with family. All this with a complete sense of freedom, and without threat of attack.

Harley Davidson, how we ride in America.

It took spending time in Spain for me to really grasp how truly fortunate we are to live in a country with such abundance. So many things we take for granted, such as the abundance of free paper products (napkins, toilet paper in public restrooms), clean drinking water, unbelievable wealth and comfort, and 30 kinds of cheese.

I recently heard a man tell this story: He grew up in Argentina, in a small town. There was no running water, no electricity. The toilet was a village outhouse. Their was one shower for the village as well. He said the home he grew up in was almost like a cave. And the floor was dirt.

A barn on the road to Pinnacles National Monument.

At 23 years old he got out and moved to New York. He couldn’t believe the immense wealth: All of the cars! The buildings as tall as canyon walls! He hadn’t seen new cars, or a building over three-stories tall. He walked down the streets touching the cars, and looking up at the glass walls that made up the sides of this artificial ‘Grand Canyon’ as the wind whipped through.

This is only the beginning of his most interesting story. He should really be writing this. He became and actor and eventually moved to Los Angeles. When he got enough money, he brought his mother and sister over for a visit.

What do you think is the first thing he showed them? Disneyland? Our massive freeways? Nope. He took them to the grocery store. As he walked them through the aisles he said, ‘Look at all this cereal! Look at this – there are 30 kinds of cheese! Look at the 15 kinds of apples! Have you ever seen so many?! And look at this! PURPLE CAULIFLOWER! Who needs purple cauliflower?!’

Listening to him tell his story, seeing America through his eyes, had us all in tears. We are so fortunate to have all that we do, all of those little things we take for granted. And we have our troops to thank for our freedom and privilege.