About Carol Bell
Carol is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Her passion is journalism and it shows. Carol is our unpaid, but very efficient, administrative secretary.
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To each of us, the gods grant “moments”. The transition through some event that is forever, eternally, soul imprinting. You might not realize it as it is happening / or you may / but in it’s completion you are never the who or what you knew yourself to be before it began.
Last June I was still working part time driving a cab here in Palm Beach. On one muggy, hot, breezeless morning in June I was parked at the Tri-Rail waiting for the disembarked traveler to hire me. Beside me parked, just adjacent from the tracks and arrival platform, was a young woman dressed ‘just so’, very crisp and bright. She was smoking a cigarette nervously, nearly pacing in her wait. I was sitting in my cab listening to NPR. She glanced at me in an instant where I glanced at her and we smiled at one another. No words. Usually, I’ll address someone… this young lady looked as though she needed some kind of silence… like a moment prior to a prayer as you compose yourself. She took out a piece of gum just as the sound of the engines downtrack could be heard. She slipped the gum into her mouth, turned to look for trash (I’m supposing to this day) and just handed the paper from the gum to me as I was smiling at her.
She realized she had made a mistake, laughed and said, “I’m just so nervous” and I replied, “I can tell”. That’s all we ever spoke to one another. The larger dialogue was in our eyes. Hers shown brighter and more half frightened, more anxious yet joyful… and then I guessed. I guessed she awaited her husband on this train. He would be arriving from Miami where the larger transports landed.
The train arrived and I completely forgot my need for a customer, I was intent on seeing the reunion between my unintroduced new friend whom I had accepted the gift of recycling from and her husband. I looked out over the crowd anxiously, as well, now.
I saw them before she did, I think. Three men in tan fatigues moving towards the street and suddenly to my left:
“TOMMY!!!” she cried out with her whole heart. Several people, including Tommy, heard and looked for her. And there she was.
He bent down a picked up a duffle with his left hand and came to her without a backward glance to his buddies. She ran up to him and he dropped the duffle to embrace her not eight feet away from me and I then I saw that his right hand, his right arm, was an empty sleeve. He lifted her up and they were together, her eyes brimming with tears.
Well okay, so were mine. She saw me and silently said “thank you” … I don’t know why. I don’t try to work that out. I just remember…
Tommy and his wife. Tommy who lost more than time and heartmind to a war, to unspeakable violence. Tommy who is somewhere close by now, hopefully…hopefully working it all out. Home.
So now, here’s the commercial… and it’s a grand one… Facebook has a page to urge free internet for those serving in the military right now. That video was a part of their efforts. Go on over and support them and send your own message below this video (over on FB) to the troops!
Have You Thanked A Soldier With Our Group Today?
Last week this group’s sponsor, JoeOnTheMove, released a video – Soldiers: A Tribute of Gratitude http://bit.ly/93AR4o as a project for bringing our group closer together and saying thank you to our troops. If you’ve already participated we and many soldiers are deeply grateful for your contribution.
We want your support to keep the project’s momentum going. Here’s 5 ways you can say thank you to our troops today:
1) Watch the video to completion on Facebook – http://bit.ly/93AR4o
2) Or watch the video on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/joeonthemove#p/u/0/THAWoCxQDmw
3) Leave a thank you comment below the video.
4) Send this video to military service people to say thank you.
5) Forward the video to your Facebook and email contacts
and ask them to send this video to their friends.
In just 7 days over 16,000 people from this group and its sister group Free Phone Calls for Soldiers http://bit.ly/azzzAk have watched this video to completion. Thank you! What’s equally exciting is over 800 members have said thank you to our troops. However, considering our two groups have over 2.6 million members together we’re still at less than 1% of the groups showing its thanks to our heroes so far. Come on people – let’s get involved!
Posted by Carol Bell
on March 11, 2010. Filed under Commentary,News.
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Great read and emotional video Gwen. I developed a contact with a group of Marines several years ago through one of my former students at Kaplan University. It is interesting that the names have changed a bit and the group is now in Afghanistan but I still get e mails occasionally from some of the group and I always respond. Sometimes I send them jokes and cartoons. As an inactive Marine )there are no ex Marines) I understand their loss of contact with the people of their country.
Ta LZ! It really was a ‘moment’ seeing those two. I understand about troops connecting back to home. I have a shop I work with out of TX … the ladies’ husbands are deployed in Iraq still. I put together boxes of small sprays I make for them… they all unerringly want “The Dragon’s Blood”! Probably because its’ earthy, sweet scent overpowers the carnage when they spray it on bandana’s or masks. That’s what I’m told. There are 1000 ways to make the troops feel better, closer to home. THE BEST WAY IS TO BRING THEM HOME. (ah, soapbox removed) lOl
I support the troops and always have. I am also aware that their primary mission is to keep America safe by fighting America’s enemies. That is their job. They are not doing their primary job working in the motor pool at home. Wars sucks and this one is no different, but sometimes war is necessary and sometimes the troops have to fulfill their primary mission. They are doing that. It will be time to bring them home when their tour is up.
That being said it is important to let them know that we believe in them and in what they are doing and your post and your message let them know that Gwen…Great stuff!!
Never in a million years will I ever believe that the war in Iraq had to be fought, fighting it was a politicians mistake, but the men and women who are there and their families and friends deserve our support. Thank you for that Gwen.
Great story! The men and women in uniform and their families make so many sacrifices for our country, regardless of our personal feelings on the politics of the war. I think this is the kind of story that touchs everyone.
For what it’s worth. Whenever a soldier dies and it’s announced on TV or radio…British or American…if I’m not alone in the house I pop to the bathroom.
Can’t let the stiff upper lip drop eh?
WE KNOW AND WE LOVE THEM AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR BRAVERY AND SOMETIMES TOTAL SACRIFICE.
Is it really too much for our politicians to?
Apparently.
They send them to die in illegal and unnecessary wars and they go because they are loyal to their countries. To us.
The ones that send them know no shame.
It makes me feel ashamed to be a part of humanity and so so proud of the part of humanity that is a soldier.
Well done, Gwen. Whatever our feelings are about the war, it’s absolutely clear that those people serving in the military are deserving of our support. It wasn’t them who drummed up the policy, the rationale, etc..
My retirement papers were processed one month before my last National Guard unit was put on alert and eventually deployed. With the maze my papers had to navigate before I could finally remove the uniform I stayed in another year. During that time I was assigned to another unit just to have a place to be accountable on drill weekends but remained in contact with my friends overseas and indirectly with their families here at home.
That was the closest time I came to despising those civilians eager for enemy blood to flow but at the same time who held a careless disregard for those serving. Yes, many stuck magnetic yellow ribbons to their cars and maybe occasionally muttered hollow platitudes about supporting the troops but very rarely did I ever see real and deep commitment.
All the families of those in my last unit suffered unbelievable stress while their loved ones were away and several times as part of the family support group I did little things like mow a lawn, fix a toilet, or several other minor things.
Long story short, I was stunned at the ignorance of many living close by these families that complained about something the family wasn’t doing to keep up appearances but yet did nothing to help themselves. But at the same time refused to learn anything about the people overseas they were so eager to see our guys and gals kill.
Their support for the troops was a mile wide but only an inch deep.
About Carol Bell
Lazersedge
March 11, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Great read and emotional video Gwen. I developed a contact with a group of Marines several years ago through one of my former students at Kaplan University. It is interesting that the names have changed a bit and the group is now in Afghanistan but I still get e mails occasionally from some of the group and I always respond. Sometimes I send them jokes and cartoons. As an inactive Marine )there are no ex Marines) I understand their loss of contact with the people of their country.
Gwen
March 11, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Ta LZ! It really was a ‘moment’ seeing those two. I understand about troops connecting back to home. I have a shop I work with out of TX … the ladies’ husbands are deployed in Iraq still. I put together boxes of small sprays I make for them… they all unerringly want “The Dragon’s Blood”! Probably because its’ earthy, sweet scent overpowers the carnage when they spray it on bandana’s or masks. That’s what I’m told. There are 1000 ways to make the troops feel better, closer to home. THE BEST WAY IS TO BRING THEM HOME. (ah, soapbox removed) lOl
MadMike
March 11, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I support the troops and always have. I am also aware that their primary mission is to keep America safe by fighting America’s enemies. That is their job. They are not doing their primary job working in the motor pool at home. Wars sucks and this one is no different, but sometimes war is necessary and sometimes the troops have to fulfill their primary mission. They are doing that. It will be time to bring them home when their tour is up.
That being said it is important to let them know that we believe in them and in what they are doing and your post and your message let them know that Gwen…Great stuff!!
teeluck
March 11, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Wow, that is such a down to earth touching story, thank you
Holte Ender
March 11, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Never in a million years will I ever believe that the war in Iraq had to be fought, fighting it was a politicians mistake, but the men and women who are there and their families and friends deserve our support. Thank you for that Gwen.
MadMike
March 11, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I agree completely with regard to Iraq Holte.
Holte Ender
March 11, 2010 at 6:14 pm
MIKE – I know you have different thoughts about Afghanistan.
MadMike
March 11, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Yes I do, but that doesn’t mean I like war
Bee
March 11, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Ok, the story brought tears to my eyes too!
Sky Girl
March 11, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Great story! The men and women in uniform and their families make so many sacrifices for our country, regardless of our personal feelings on the politics of the war. I think this is the kind of story that touchs everyone.
MadMike
March 11, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I sure agree there Sky!!
fourdinners
March 11, 2010 at 8:00 pm
For what it’s worth. Whenever a soldier dies and it’s announced on TV or radio…British or American…if I’m not alone in the house I pop to the bathroom.
Can’t let the stiff upper lip drop eh?
WE KNOW AND WE LOVE THEM AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR BRAVERY AND SOMETIMES TOTAL SACRIFICE.
Is it really too much for our politicians to?
Apparently.
They send them to die in illegal and unnecessary wars and they go because they are loyal to their countries. To us.
The ones that send them know no shame.
It makes me feel ashamed to be a part of humanity and so so proud of the part of humanity that is a soldier.
Will "take no prisoners" Hart
March 12, 2010 at 12:00 am
Well done, Gwen. Whatever our feelings are about the war, it’s absolutely clear that those people serving in the military are deserving of our support. It wasn’t them who drummed up the policy, the rationale, etc..
Beach Bum
March 12, 2010 at 12:04 am
My retirement papers were processed one month before my last National Guard unit was put on alert and eventually deployed. With the maze my papers had to navigate before I could finally remove the uniform I stayed in another year. During that time I was assigned to another unit just to have a place to be accountable on drill weekends but remained in contact with my friends overseas and indirectly with their families here at home.
That was the closest time I came to despising those civilians eager for enemy blood to flow but at the same time who held a careless disregard for those serving. Yes, many stuck magnetic yellow ribbons to their cars and maybe occasionally muttered hollow platitudes about supporting the troops but very rarely did I ever see real and deep commitment.
All the families of those in my last unit suffered unbelievable stress while their loved ones were away and several times as part of the family support group I did little things like mow a lawn, fix a toilet, or several other minor things.
Long story short, I was stunned at the ignorance of many living close by these families that complained about something the family wasn’t doing to keep up appearances but yet did nothing to help themselves. But at the same time refused to learn anything about the people overseas they were so eager to see our guys and gals kill.
Their support for the troops was a mile wide but only an inch deep.