this has been on my mind for a week now and i’m finally putting it into words.  we were coming home from the airport via a ride-share service, and the gal, having never met a stranger, asked the driver how his day had gone.  he told her more than she expected, and we both paid close attention.

he said his day wasn’t easy, that he drives for a living because he can’t do much else.  he’s a veteran who returned from the war in Iraq with PTSD and an injured back.  he hoped that he’d learn valuable skills that would translate easily into civilian life when he finished his hitch.  he thought a good job and a bright future were within his grasp.  but then he was damaged.  he didn’t say how it happened, only that his plans fell apart.  now he drives until the pain forces him to stop.

my gal asked what she could do to help, and he said, “don’t forget us.  lots of folk in the service have families that send them cards and packages for birthdays and holidays, and they know their people are thinking about them.  but there are a whole lot of service people who have no one.  they never get a package.  they never get a card.  no one thinks about them.  no one says ‘you’re on my mind.’  then when we get home, we’re supposed to get on with it, and we can’t, and then we disappear.”

when we got to the house, he helped with the luggage and my gal gave him a hug.  but i wonder, what else can we do?  and by WE i mean YOU.  you may already know how to do this, but if you don’t, here’s a link below to a bunch of organizations that will pass your cards and letters along to a complete stranger who would really appreciate a kind word–from YOU.  we can never know what a difference we may make, but our driver was pretty sure that every effort, whether great or small, really truly matters.  purr, y’all.

http://www.operationwearehere.com/IdeasforSoldiersCardsLetters.html#anchor_435