take a pittance of time by summerfield

take a pittance of time

week 45 of the 52 portraits of me challenge; the prompt this time is "grateful". as i have to tie this i with the november words prompt which is "take a pittance of time" as we remember and give thanks to those people who gave their lives and are risking their lives so that we shall always enjoy the freedom and democracy we enjoy (and sometimes taken for granted).

i was absolutely at a loss as to how i would combine the two. but i thought it would be correct to represent my gratefulness (methinks gratitude is the correct term) by donning the poppy flower which is a symbol of this day. and whenever the national anthem is played in public events, i always place my hand on my chest.

at eleven o'clock this morning, the bus i was on stopped to observe a couple of minutes of silence in observance of remembrance day. to be fair, he gave us an advance warning about it as it wasn't quite eleven yet. well, what do you know, there's a sour puss who complained. then another followed and another idiot whose pants were way down his knees and his underwear showing. they said it was not the place to do that and that they were in a hurry. blah blah blah. until an older gentleman, bald, tattoo all over, chains around his neck, told the complainers "you f***ing shut up or i'm going to wring your bloody neck!" he stood up and cornered the idiot and told him how he fought in afghanistan and that there are so many men and women who died so that he (the idiot) would be free to wear his f***ing pants way down low his ass. then he looked at the two sour pusses and told them "and so you can wear your f***ing fancy coach purse and stupid nose rings" and would they like to step off the bus? we gave the big guy a big round of applause. complainers kept quiet with their chin lifted up but you could see they were thoroughly embarrassed.

here's terry kelly's official version of the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo
So elegantly fitting
November 12th, 2017  
Oh, Vikki - this shot and compelling narrative brought a lump to my throat! I am so proud of you, the bus driver, the veteran, and all who applauded. I have a funny feeling those that complained now think differently. Lest we forget
You really combined the two challenges so perfectly. A beautiful tribute.
November 12th, 2017  
Beautifully done!
November 12th, 2017  
I love you, your pictures and your view of this world. Love that you keep sharing.
November 12th, 2017  
@pandorasecho - love you, too, my friend!♥
November 12th, 2017  
Bravo! What a sensational photo and narrative! Certainly in the states we could use a little of that "capsualization" to bring the split factions together for a few minutes at a time! I'm glad you got to be a witness and join those in clapping so meaningfully for that veteran!
November 12th, 2017  
Remarkably combined to make an incredibly touching photo. FAV! Would that there were more people in the world to stand up to the ignorantly selfish!
November 12th, 2017  
great photo and funny I knew it was you as soon as the picture appeared. Some people just don't get it but I'm so glad he set them right.
November 12th, 2017  
Outstanding!
November 12th, 2017  
Thanks, Vikki, for leaving flowers for Joy and Craig! WHERE did you find those calla lilies with that fabulous colour?!!! I need some for my yard in California! Beautiful!
November 12th, 2017  
Your black and white images in this album are fabulous! They look so amazing all together.
November 12th, 2017  
Wonderful and so creative
November 12th, 2017  
Fav for an absolutely masterly and beautiful portrait and text.
November 12th, 2017  
Great shot. Glad that man put those others in their place. After all it is just two minutes out of their day
November 12th, 2017  
Wonderful image and words.
November 12th, 2017  
What a great'portrait' - your narrative was so impressive I read it out to my other half! A big up to the verteran and the bus driver who chose to stop on his journey! Fantastic! fav
November 12th, 2017  
Oh my, pains me to hear of incidents like this. Well done the veteran for standing up and saying something. I like the shot, nice idea and well executed.
November 12th, 2017  
I love the way you tell your story, but what a shame it happened. I hope the complainers will remember that guy each year onwards and remember with respect in future. In the meanwhile, you put together a striking image and portrait to combine your themes.
November 12th, 2017  
@Weezilou - the bunch was part of a larger arrangement. most fridays i bring home the arrangement from our office reception so i would have flowers to photograph if in case i run out of ideas. needless to say, i have a cacheful of flower shots! i will have to ask the florist where they get the deep purple callas and i will let you know, my lady.
November 12th, 2017  
@northy @farmreporter @alophoto @pandorasecho @Weezilou @grammyn @lesip @kwind @lynnz @nicolecampbell @quietpurplehaze @bkbinthecity @ludwigsdiana @Cherrill @casablanca @helenhall

big thank you, my kind friends. i am sensitive to the plight of our military especially so that i have cousins and young nephews and nieces who are in the US army and US navy, most of them having been posted to afghanistan and iran. you can imagine how my aunts feel every time so i am sure the whole clan is stressed when that happens. the daughter of my friend is also the wife to an american soldier and she told me that the ties her husband had been fighting in iran, she dreaded the ringing of the phone.

i just wish that our governments would do more to improve the lot of our retired military people, as well as the police and fireghters.
November 12th, 2017  
Great image, lovely story. Nice one.
November 12th, 2017  
perfect
what else is there to say
glad the Vet spoke up and everyone applauded. We need to do that more.
November 13th, 2017  
Wonderfully commentary. I agree wholeheartedly. This is an amazing portrait of you. Fav! I don't know how I missed some of your pictures, except at the time, I was recovering from surgery and was ordered to bed for 6 weeks. So, that explains my absence at times.
November 23rd, 2017  
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