Something to think about.

Hi everyody, Eric here. I hope this message finds you all well, and I hope you had a great holiday. I just wanted to tell you all what happened to me on a flight from Tampa to Atlanta yesterday that made me stop and reflect.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not particularly chatty. However, I happened to strike up conversations with the two individuals seated next to me on the plane. The first was a soldier who was headed back to Iraq for his second tour. He was a sergeant I believe, and he trains Iraqi soldiers in southern Baghdad, and also lives with them in their homes. He had such a great attitude about his work, and about his role in the effort. He was so proud of the progress he is helping to make over there, and he said he couldn't wait to get back. I was asking him a lot of questions about his job, and during one of his answers he made a comment that really bothered me. I asked him how he got along with the Iraqi people and what they thought about our guys over there. His comment to me was, "Well, some of them like us, and some of them hate us. It's a lot like it is here in the states I guess. Some people like us, some don't." That statement made me really sad. Here is a guy putting his life on the line for his country, yet he feels like there are people here in the United States of America who have distain for him because of what he does, or the conflict he is involved in.
The second person was a woman who was flying with her family back to their home in Philadelphia. We were making small talk about the weather, the holidays, what we do for a living etc. I asked her what she had been doing in Tampa, and she told me that they had flown in to bury her young nephew who was killed tragically in a motorcycle accident. Not the answer I was expecting. I immediately felt about two inches tall.
Most of us get caught up in ourselves. We go through our daily routines oblivious to the people around us, to what the person next to us might be going through, or what that person might be doing for us and we don't even know it. Next time you see one of our military men or women in uniform in the airport or on the street, stop and thank them. They need to hear it from the ones of us who are truly proud of them and are behind them 110%. And take today and call the ones you love. Let them know how much you love and appreciate them. You never know when that chance may be taken away. Just food for thought.

-e-

ps. I love and appreciate all of you guys out there. See you all in '09 :)