I know, I know. That voice in my head is saying what you are thinking ... Nikki, go to bed!! Its 2 AM! But I had a spark of inspiration and I just had to blog. Tee hee, giggle giggle! Blog. <dodges dirty looks I know Kane is sending my way right now>
Set the way back machine to some time in late June 2011. Sitting, feeling sorry for myself, I turn on the TV. Of course, the default channel is on A&E (LOVE that channel!) and I start watching my secret obsession, Gene Simmon's Family Jewels. Now, I am sooo not a reality TV show person. In fact, I have my nasty gram ready to send to TruTV (F.K.A. Court TV) for getting rid of the awesome shows like Forensic Files, North Mission Road, & Body of Evidence. Only to replace them with their "actuality" shows of Operation Repo - FYI, it says in the credits the stories are 'reinacted', so much for "actuality" - something about oil drillers, and a lame ass show about stupid criminals ... EPIC TV PROGRAMMING FAIL!!! So, A&E has become my new fav channel because they still have The First 48! W0ot! How 'bout them apples, bitches!?!?!?!
NE wayz, the episode is where Gene and Shannon go to Ft. Hood. It had me bawling by the end. Gut wrenching sobs, that are only surpassed by the death of my husband. All these men and women who put their lives on this line (and on hold) for me, you, us. So we can sleep at night, complain about the government, pray to our God - or a carboard cut out, or inatimant object, or whatever -, and say prettymuch anything we want in media, print, and the inter webs. Yet here, some of these men and women didn't have people wishing them good bye, safe journey, or saying I will see you when you get home. Can you believe that??? All they do for us, and not one person there to send them off. Sad, really.
It also made me think of a story Kane told me. He was always so so proud of our military. When he had to go to Malaysia for work for a month, he landed back on U.S. soil at LAX. He went out for a smoke and saw a man in uniform. He walked up to the man and asked if he could shake his hand. The man in uniform was dumbfounded, and Kane told him: "I have just been in Malaysia for the last month. The first thing I did when I landed here was kiss the ground. You are the reason I am so proud of living in America. Thank you!" And the soldier shook his hand.
After composing myself that night, I had an apostrophe - lightning struck my brain - and yea, it hurt a little. I thought there has to be something I can do. Even if its something little, to let our heros know I care, and how proud I am of them. I hit the usual website, Google, and type-itty, type, type, typed, "sending letters & military". So many results - in true Google fashon <rolls eyes>. I thought, how in the world am I going to know which one is legit? So, a quick prayer to my angels to guide me to the right website... viola! Soldier's Angels 2nd site down.
As I read the information, I decided this is the site I asked for. I knew I would not be able to adopt a soldier - my widdah brain would surely forget to send the required once a month care package, and I knew my Prada wallet couldn't take the extra expense *SIDENOTE: Said Prada wallet was purchased as a gift to me in 2009 for graduating with a M.S. - don't be a hater!). But, I could write letters, for the low low price of only $0.42 per letter (plus the cost of paper, envelops, and writing utensils)!!! I'm there! As I am registering for the opportunity to write letters, I see their slogan "May no soldier go unloved" And I lost it again. To think, all these men an women, worlds away from home, and all they would like is a letter to know that someone cares. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I finished the registration, and noticed a check box for sending a one time care package to a soldier. I thought, what the hell? I could do that! I'm then emailed the name, and address of a soldier and off I go.
I hit the store and think of things someone away from home would like. Candy, check. Drink mixes in 3 varieties, check. Granola Bars, Cup o' Noodles, and Pop-Tarts, check check check. Oh, and lets not forget the powerded coffee mix :) I wrote up a nice little note to send to my soldier, telling him how proud I was of our fine military folks, a little about me, what I like to do, that Tinkerbelle sends her sloppy, wet puppy kisses, and my status as widow. I ended the letter with love and blessings. Now, off to the post office.
I stood in line at the post office for 30 minutes. Luckily, the radio they had streaming through the speakers was playing good tunes. Of course, I HAD to hum along, and dance a little. Duh! I was in line, had to do something to keep my sanity! The nice gentle man behind me comments on the fact that young people (that would be me) likes the oldies but goodies. Pfft! I tell him, I grew up on this music, besides, its SANTANA!! How could you not like it? Then the gentleman behind him comments about the music, too. Somehow, we got on the topic of how he was a retired Miami PD detective, and some of the crazy shit he saw during that time. Ok, I'm totally a sucker for cop stories so I listen intently, wide eyed and in awe. Oh, I'm next!
I walk up to the counter, and of course ... I have the wrong form filled out, Grr! Luckily, the man lets me step to the other counter to fill the correct form out, and when I am done, I can go back to his counter and he will finish helping. I fill out the form, and a nice lady comes up - must have been her counter - and starts talking to me. She said she would help me, looks at the package and sees I'm mailing it to a soldier. I tell her what I'm doing and who I am associated with. She is so excited that I'm there. She tells me about the bigger boxes that will ship more stuff, and informs me about the discount I can get with said bigger box because its a military address. Ccheck out complete and I'm on my happy, little way.
So, today I check my mail. Doing my usual prayer that only happy things are in the little, square box that normally is just a bringer of bad news, and I see a letter. Its from my soldier!! OMG!! He actually wrote back!!!! I totally wasn't expecting to hear from him.
He told me how much he enjoyed the treats, that he shared them with his buddies, he told me where he was from, where he is at, thanked Tinkerbelle for the sloppy, wet puppy kisses, and told me how sorry he was that I am a widow.
I can see Kane smiling down at me right now. So proud of his baby!
In closing, I would like to thank the post office for not fucking up this time by 1.) actually delivering the package like its supposed to be delivered, 2.) in a timely manner, and 3.) for allowing the letter from my soldier to be delivered to me without me having to stand in line again, or call and yell at them about WTF is my mail?!?!? ... 3 times.
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