I SUPPORT THEM...100% but I want to make sure everyone knows...This is not about me! It was sent to me by a friend. I think the meaning behind this is very important.
I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find
all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table,
shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around
with long neck beers and sizzling platters.
Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass.
My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to
identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean
shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.
Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband
usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth,
talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he
made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant
once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the
thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home.
I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was
at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my
letters getting through to him?
As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next
booth broke into my thoughts. "I don't know what Bush is thinking about.
Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes.
Good Lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know,
he stole the election."
I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them as they began an endless
tirade running down our president.
I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to
deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots.
The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me
chills! Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.
"It's all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal
all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I wonder how many
innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought. It's pure greed,
you know."
My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how
handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my
finger I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform,
affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.
"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding
any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the
president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the
expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're
just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again that we
didn't deserve it."
Unknown "Cass" Perplexed
- 16 years, 10 months, 10 days ago
