Two Hot Blondes and a Dead Soldier

I spent the last few days on a job site in suburban DC – nothing to report.  I did however meet some interesting humans along the way.

The second was a beautiful woman.  Long curly blonde hair, leather boots – the whole nine: she cursed like a drunken sailor and smoked and smoked and smoked and didn't shut up the whole time.  She’d just finished her abbreviated 3^rd and final tour of Afghanistan and was on her way back to NYC.  Though she was annoying it was refreshing to talk to someone my age (give or take) in the dark abyss that is the airport smoking lounge.  (I say talk, but really just listened.)  She showed and was quite proud of a wicked diamond shaped scar on her inner, upper thigh – the consequence of a well placed IED and her ticket out of the ‘Stan.  She didn’t fit the stereotype of a soldier in any way; certainly not what you picture when you think of a wounded veteran, but that’s exactly what she was.  She’s getting a medal of some sort that I do not recall the name of.  High school drop-out, (2) kids, single mother.  The marine corp made her a software engineer and she has a job lined up when she gets home.  I sat there in awe of this lady (an admittedly loosely used term) and felt shock and shame in the same measure.  Shocked that bravery and honor could exist in such a striking package – shame that I complain about anything ever.  I didn’t catch her name, but she impressed me.  I hope she does well.

I sat next to the third person on the flight home tonight.  Who’s in the next seat on a plane is the ultimate crap shoot.  You really never know what you’re going to get and it’s usually disappointing.  Tonight her name was Laura and she was a joy to spend time with.  She’s in her final year at UGA studying interior design; very bright kid.  She possessed that wide-eyed energy that young people have: that constant enthusiasm and positive outlook.   I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the design world is an absolute clusterf@%#.  I did the opposite actually – I offered her a job.  I’m under no delusion that she will in fact call when she graduates but I hope she does.  My firm could certainly use a shot in the arm and she seems like she would be perfect in that capacity.  I never cease to be amazed by people like her.  I was like that once; eager, inquisitive, strong willed, out-spoken.  I’m just jaded and more than a little pissed off lately.  Few people ask about what I do and ever fewer care.  She did and she wanted every detail. That’s awesome.  I could use her on my team.  She was waiting at baggage claim with her boyfriend when I walked out of the airport.  I had mentioned the blog and she stopped me to make sure that I remembered to plug Eighty Dollar Champion.  It’s a book about a plow horse who someone bought for (80) bucks and turned into a show horse.  That sounds like an great story.  I’m happy that I met Laura and that she told me about that book. 

When I landed in DC night (1) I "met" one of the most courageous individuals ever.  I was ready to get to the hotel so we could go out but the engineers I was with saw something that made us all stop and forget what we were doing.   Somebody was finishing their last tour in the worst way possible – flag draped in a coffin.  He was a few gates up from where we landed but we saw it as we taxied.  I was astounded by and incredibly proud of the manner in which the body was handled.  There was a hearse to receive the remains.  There was an honor guard in full dress uniforms.  The workers on the tarmac stopped what they were doing in freezing temps, took off there hats and waited until this ceremony was over.  It was voyeuristic in some respects as we were leering from the terminal windows but we couldn’t help it.  Once we saw what was taking place we were not only compelled but obligated to stand there in reverence and witness his passage.  I’m vocally against the war in Afghanistan and was against Iraq as well.  That said I have friends, dear compadres who are in harm’s way in country as I type this.  I’ve never lost (nor will I) respect for the sacrifice these gents have made and continue to make.  I don’t let myself think about the possible reality of what might happen.  I can’t imagine what it must be like for their families. 

What I saw Monday night galvanized my feelings on this and every other war for that matter.  In short, it’s not worth it.  In addition to the hearse and a silent police escort there was a limousine.  And though I don’t know for sure, I assume his or her family was in that limousine.   When the pall bearers walked away from the hearse, they stopped and saluted that car.  Just after, one of them took off his hat and passed it through the window to somebody inside.  I didn’t show it outwardly, but I lost it inside when I saw that.  It’s a damn crying shame the price that is paid – daily.

I was proud of the fact that we show our fallen heroes that level of respect even on a Monday night when nobody is looking. It breaks my heart that this is our societal new reality though.

I know a million people on this earth.  These (3) affected me.  Most do not. 

That is that.