Life with Monkeys

Red Shirt Fridays

 
If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man...

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?

No.  I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now.  He was killed in Iraq ; I'm taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.  

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.  

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies  and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have  had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the  United States Marine Corps join us on this flight He is escorting a fallen comrade back  home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority."  We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of  showing solidarity and support for our troops  with dignity and respect starts this Friday --  and continues each and every Friday until the  troops all come home, sending a deafening  message that ...... Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent" majority is on their side more than  ever, certainly more than the media lets  on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

My Very Favorite Veteran

On this day, in particular, I think of my father-in-law, of blessed memory, who served as a Marine during World War II. Jack William Straight, served with great honor and heart and often told me of his regular visits to the chaplain to discuss the great ambivalence he felt about killing an enemy while he was a believing Christian. He remembered with great sadness, those he served with, who didn't come home. When he told my mother-in-law, Barbara, that he felt compelled to enlist, she said, "Fine, just don't join the Marines." He joined the Marines. And when he went off to training, she said, "Okay, but don't get a tattoo." He came back with a tattoo that read, Semper Fidelis, on his arm. She wasn't thrilled but she understood and they shared more than 50 years of a loving and sweet marriage. I miss them both every day. And today, I thank all of the Veterans for their service and their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families. May G-d bless them all.

Krav Maga and Me

My synagogue sent out notices that they would be bringing in a Krav Maga expert to teach a course in kicking some ass! Okay, not really, more like, getting out of a jam if someone tries to attack us! As I am a delicate flower and would likely freeze if such a thing happened, I thought it prudent to sign up. My mister signed up too, but I think that's just to be near me because heaven help anyone who tries to tangle with him! So, this morning we went to the first class. How did I like it, you may be asking.  I hated it! Hated. Every. Minute. The whole class is so aggresive; punching each other (well, with pads) and pretending to choke each other and practicing getting out of chokeholds, and kicking each other and doing sit-ups and push-ups (excuse me? I doubt a bad guy will demand I do some sit-ups!) and well, you get the idea. Grrrr! I was not alone in hating the class. There was another diminutive lady there and we were commiserating about just how much we were hating the whole thing. In fact, we both were feeling nauseaus from it!  My instinct is to say, 'Thanks, but no thanks.' But, that would be foolhardy. I will go back. Because I hate it, I will go back. Because the whole activity is so uncomfortable and unpleasant for me. I will go back so that if someday, G-d forbid, the unthinkable happens, I will be able to fight back not freeze. Wish me luck. And a strong stomach.

In the Spirit of Christmas

Since Christmas is not a holiday I celebrate (except for the baking and Christmas caroling), we usually just have a mellow day and do what most Jews do on Christmas; go to the movies! This year, my synagogue decided to mount an effort to feed homeless people at a church downtown. Naturally, my men and I thought we should be a part of the effort. It proved to be a joyful and lovely way to spend the morning. The best part was that my men all ended up working the same table, the three of them in a row, putting fruit and baked goods on plates and handing them out, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. The morning got off to a slow start and for some time we had about four volunteers to every guest. The guests ranged from people who looked indistinguishable from the volunteers, to the folks who looked as though they'd been on the streets for years. In this shot, you can see that we even had a visit from a clown! She is seen here having an exchange with my men! I was helping man (or woman) the coffee/tea/cocoa table and I got to have some pretty interesting exchanges. I can't remember having much conversation with people who are in such circumstances and I found it kind of fascinating and terribly, terribly sad. More than a few people I spoke with seemed completely insane and I had to wonder if that was why they were on the streets or if being on the streets had rendered them in such a state. I have to believe that any normal person would become mentally ill or desperate or profoundly depressed in such a situation. And though I left feeling we had done a lovely thing to provide comfort and food to those people, I am left wondering; where are they tonight and who will help them tomorrow? 

Simple As That

I'm Not Worthy

Of the many, many things I love about living here, in my little beach community, chief among them is the chance to see our magnificent and brave heroes pulling in for a few days of whatever it is they do here. On this particular occasion, they were aboard the largest ship I have ever seen pull in here. The ship was enormous and I could see crowds of men (and women, I suppose) and large bulldozers on the back, while tugboats, looking an awful lot like toys out there, were actually pulling the ship in. It brought tears to my eyes to watch the scene unfold. Looking at my neighbors relaxing and sunning themselves on the sand while their boys play in the surf nearby. It becomes crystal clear at moments like these that I am cozy in my home and my neighbors are calmly enjoying the beach, because of the heroes on board that ship and thousands of others just like them.  Well, they are better men (and women) than I and the type of people who join up would be the last to accept such a compliment. But it is an undeniable truth; people in the military have far different motivations and sensibilities than the rest of us. And I wonder what it would take to animate me to join, if I were twenty years younger, and I come up empty. I haven't the grit.  And I can't help thinking, 'I'm not worthy.' Lucky for me, I live in a country that most certainly is  worthy

UPDATE:

My super cool and knowledgeable reader, Mark, left a comment about this magnificent ship, the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and the info on the website about it. If you click on the photo, you will get there. Thank you Mark, and your lovely missus, too!!!

And Now For Something Completely Ridiculous (but really cute!)

Is This A Surprise To Anyone Out There?

 
In his new book, "Makers and Takers,"  Peter Schweizer, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and Stanford University,  explores why conservatives work harder, feel happier, have closer families, take fewer drugs, give more generously, value honesty more, are less materialistic and envious, whine less and even hug their children more than liberals.

Using the latest data and research, Schweizer shows that the claims that conservatives are mean-spirited, greedy, selfish malcontents with authoritarian tendencies are a myth.  Instead, he finds that many of these claims actually apply more to liberals than to conservatives. 

For example:

• Some 71 percent of conservatives say you have an obligation to care for a seriously injured spouse or parent versus less than half (46 percent) of liberals.

• Conservatives have a better work ethic and are much less likely to call in sick than their liberal counterparts.

• Liberals are two and a half times more likely to be resentful of others' success and 50 percent more likely to be jealous of other people's good luck.

• Liberals are two times more likely to say it is okay to cheat the government out of welfare money you don't deserve.

• Some 55 percent of conservatives say they get satisfaction from putting someone else's happiness ahead of their own, versus only 20 percent of liberals.

• Those who are "very liberal" are three times more likely than conservatives to throw things when they get angry.

Schweizer argues that the failure lies in modern liberal ideas, which foster a self-centered, "if it feels good do it" attitude that leads liberals to outsource their responsibilities to the government and focus instead on themselves and their own desires. 

Source: Peter Schweizer, "Makers and Takers," Doubleday, June 3, 2008.

Knock, Knock

Who's there?  Anita. Anita who?  Anita new watch. That's what I said to the mister the other day. But it is a lie. I don't NEED a new watch any more than I need a pint of chocolate gelato. I want both. Living in the jungle, it became quite clear how little I actually do need. When we moved there, we left most of our belongings here in So Cal. Our house there was quite comfy but furnished modestly and we had the basics. Or did we? Basic to us was still luxurious to Costa Ricans. Perspective.  Life is entirely perspective and attitude. As for a watch, I already have a magnificent one that I received for a wedding anniversary, and a rather sporty one with a rubber wrist band I received a few Mother's Days ago. My mister was very sweet not to take what I know to be the standard husband attitude in such situations where they gently ask things like, "Don't you already have a couple of watches?" or, "What's wrong with the ones you have?" After one hundred years of marriage, he seems to have learned what will be the least incendiary and most loving reply, "What sort of thing did you have in mind?" I'm glad you asked...