Well, I made it another trip around the sun this week.
My brother calls to wish me a Happy Birthday and we spend a little time chatting.
My youngest brother, he spent nearly 25 years as a member of the United States Army and full time National Guard. During that time he spent three years in Germany – he took the family for that post -, a year in Korea, and two tours in Iraq.
People are quick to thank the military for their service; but often forget the families that are left behind.
His first trip to Iraq was during Desert Storm. We had no idea where he was…only somewhere in the Middle East.
In college, I couldn’t stray far from a television set. I fell asleep each night with the television on. Between classes, I was on the search for a tv with the news on.
Internet and email was a new thing in 1990. One of the server companies offered a free email – you paid by the email like snail mail in those days – to deployed military personnel. Every single day, I sent a message to my brother. Some days he answered – when he could.
Another, in those days, was that the MRE’s – meals ready to eat – were often all that was available to eat – and there were no microwaves to heat them up.
During our chat my brother had me laughing so hard talking about the endless MRE’s. But a buddy in the next tent kept saying he had a surprise coming.
His mother sent a care package that had a hot plate and Spam!
Fire it up!
The care packages that were packed and sent to the troops had a wide variety of items from personal care to M&M’s. Brother said funny, but the M&M’s all tasted like laundry soap.
Don’t like ’em, send them Tide M&M’s down here!
How often we take some of the simple pleasures foregranted.
The MRE’s have food heaters now!
My brother was deployed the first time to the desert in October and did not return until some time in April when he held his new baby girl for the first time. He said she cried but it didn’t take her long to realize, this dude was ok since he changed and fed her.
My mother refused to take down the Christmas tree until my brother had come home. When he did, his Easter basket was sitting under that Christmas tree.
It would be nice if the “powers that be” would stop to think and consider what life is like and the worry they have to deal with when their loved ones are sent to God only knows where with no way to communicate with them. It has been quite a while since the nation elected a Commander in Chief who actually spent time in a uniform and understands what that means to the families.
Very cool! 😎