The Longest Day

Last week I finally picked up the top book on my "read someday when I have time" pile. This one caught my eye because I saw the movie version of it many years ago, during my World War II movies phase.

I realize now that that's not a real common phase for girls :) - but I truly enjoyed those great ones - Stalog 13, The Great Escape, Bridge over the River Kwai, etc. Watching those so many times is how I learned my few phrases of German, French, and Russian. Nicht-schiezen: Don't shoot, Telephone pour moi: Telephone for me?, and Ya vas lublu: I love you :)
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I remember bits of the movie The Longest Day, but reading this story about D-Day has turned out to be just about as "hard to put down" as any other book I've read. Though I am eager to finish the book, demands of the past week have forced me to put off reading it quickly. However, that has also provided an interesting perspective, as I have been reading about the events of June 2-6, 1944 on practically those very same days these 65 years later.

It is incredible to read about both sides as they approached that fateful day - full of so many crazy and inexplicable events surrounding D-Day. In Obama's speech today at the Allied leaders tribute in France, he said, "Long after our time on this Earth has passed, one word will still bring forth the pride and awe of men and women who will never meet the heroes who sit before us: D-Day." It certainly has done that for me as I read this tattered book that somehow made it into my hands in Oaxaca, Mexico.

At this point, I am only halfway through. Even though I know the end, I am still on the edge of my seat 'watching' the events unfold. Sounds akin to having faith in Christ's triumphant return, but still struggling with the worries of each day, eh? As my fellow missionary colleague, Cindy Hoover, would probably say, I think there's a sermon in there somewhere :).