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Man,
those flight suits were comfy!
How many people get to work in pajamas?
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It’s
Monday again, folks, and you know what that means! Another look at the weird,
wacky, and wild things they’re putting into our foods. But today isn’t just any
Monday. It’s Veteran’s Day, so before we get to being label peeping Toms, I’d
like to offer a sincere and heartfelt thank
you to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, and their families.
Whether you’re a veteran or currently in service, please know that I value and
respect what you do, and am grateful to you for doing it. You make me proud—and
feel safe—to be an American. Technically speaking, I am part of your ranks,
although I almost blush when I say so. I served just four years, so in the
grand scheme, not exactly a long and storied military career. Most of those
four years were spent in training. (I was an airborne linguist, and the
training cycle was long enough to take up most of a typical first-time enlistment.)
Nevertheless, camaraderie among those in uniform is a sacred bond, and I feel
privileged and honored to have worked alongside the people I did. These days, I
keep up with them mostly via Facebook (who got married, who has kids now, who’s
stationed in Japan/Germany/North Dakota). It’s hard to believe that people who,
at one time, were my lifeline to sanity, friendship, and the unique
understanding that comes only through shared hardship, are now an electronic
wave and a nod. I’m resolving today to keep in touch more faithfully. Being
thrown into stressful situations with complete strangers and emerging trusted
battle buddies on the other side is one of the things I remember most fondly
about the military. (Made-to-order omelets at midnight chow didn’t hurt, either,
hehheh.)
