Thoughts....

First and Foremost

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!!

Weekend Recap:
This weekend was rather fun. Friday night was low key as was most of Sat. Sat night we ended up with a group of probably 10 or 15 women back at our place playing card games until late into the night. It was a lot of fun. We taught Jen B.S. I was shocked she had never played but I think she is now a proud addict. Sunday after church Gina made a fabulous birthday dinner to celebrate Kim and we all just sat around the table talking. I talk a lot…I need to listen more, but regardless, it always fascinates me to hear the thoughts and opinions of others. And it was nice to be able to just relax and chat with the roomies. Who knows how long we will be able to do so, now that the landlord has put the house back on the market. After dinner, we pulled off the miracle of a surprise party for Kim. I’ll spare the details, but I will say that it was definitely a surprise. With cake and ice cream and lots of friends, I think everyone had fun.

Today's thoughts:
There are various reasons for today's pensive mood. Today's thoughts are on the soldiers of our country. My thoughts have turn to Soldierman in Iraq; Marty at Ft Bragg and Farmer Ted at Ft Hood, both ready to ship out; Frank who just returned from his 18 months tour; and the many, many others that continually fight. I think of the wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters, fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, and friends who all wait patiently hoping that their loved ones will return in one piece.

Every morning I metro to work; sharing my commute with many others all headed to different destinations. Some of those are men and women in uniform. Recently, I watched a couple as they headed who knows where. He was in some sort of cammo uniform with patches on the sleeve and his last name on the front. She was dressed for the office. We were only on the train together for a short time but as I stood I couldn’t help but watch their interaction. They were sitting side by side with her head on his right shoulder. She had a double grip on his right hand. Every so often her top hand would lift to grab his upper arm. When it did, his left hand would rise to pat the hand on his arm, once or twice lifting to pat her head and smooth her hair. Her eyes were closed, as if she was sleeping, but her movements told us she was awake. He, on the other hand, was the picture of impatience. His left knee was constantly bouncing up and down, his left hand tapping the bouncing knee. He was couldn’t focus on one thing for too long; his head turning this way and that to be able see everyone and everything. I am not one to read people’s faces and theirs let me in on none of their secrets. About 4 or so stops later they both rose to get off the train. Awkwardly gathering their bags, hers a large purse. I didn’t pay any attention to his as I was focused on her. She never released his hand, not even as he led the way off the car, jostling people out of their way. Once they were on the platform they stepped out of the flow of traffic for a quick kiss; just a peck really. Then she headed one direction and he another.

With my imagination, I can come up with a million different scenarios for this couple. But it was probably nothing more then the usual morning on the way to work which I have romanticized into something meaningful. But today as I sit and think about the meaning of tomorrow and all of the military men and women world wide, I can’t help but think of the courage of the women and men that they leave behind. I think that as we honor those that proudly fight for dear Ol’ Uncle Sam, we should also honor their loved ones, those left waiting, and hoping, and praying.
They are an amazing group.