Keepin' It Real--Crabby, But Real

I found this funny video clip on my buddy Chuckle's website, called Skedaddy (www.skedaddy.com). Anyway click here for a GREAT (not just good) laugh today. As the title of the clip states, he is "freaking funny"! I'm not sure if this guy is for real, but he's funny. He's like the Tim Conway of fishing.

Surely, we have all met someone or witnessed something that makes us stop and think "Are you for real?" Sometimes, people just seem so genuinely nice, stupid, annoying, naive, meticulous, stunningly beautiful, disorganized, or whatever you can imagine in excess, that you're just not sure what to believe.

I find that the older I get, the more "are you for real" moments I have, however, in my mind I'm really saying "Are you sh*ttin' me?" because I'm just so astounded at some things I can only express it in expletives.

Having attended years of my kids' roller hockey, baseball, and now football games, I find myself asking that question on a regular basis in regards to over zealous moms and dads I observe at the games. Whether they're shamefully yelling at their kids about their lack of performance or being an over-the-top cheerleader on the sidelines. Far be it from me to say that I'm the measuring stick for normalcy, but seriously, all I can think of at these times is "Dude...are you for real? Get a life, and if this is your life, you should consider getting a new one."

Lately, every time I have a conversation with my aging parents, I almost always find myself wondering "Is this confusing and repetitive interaction we're having for real?" because I could just kill myself.

When I witness people texting while driving or hear about pilots laptopping while piloting (and overshooting their destination by about 150 miles) it make me take pause and say "Are you for real or just incredibly stupid?"

When I see people toss their cigarette butts right out the window, because for some reason they think that doesn't count as littering, I just want to ask them "Are you for real and this thoughtless all the time, or only when you smoke?" I find it incredibly ironic that they don't mind if their mouth smells like an ashtray, but they sure as heck don't want the ashtray in their car to smell like an ashtray.

When I read saccharin-ridden Facebook postings of how happy and beautiful and wonderful life is for some people (all the time!) I think "Are you for real, because nobody and their families are that happy or loving all the time, unless they are living in a dreamworld." Sheesh...even the Brady Bunch family had dissent for at least 30 minutes every Friday night. I would just love it for once if someone posted something on Facebook that shared with us just how much their life sucked at that moment! Then, I would think, "now that's for real."

Last night, as I headed out to run some errands, I had a major "are you for real moment" when I saw two houses in my neighborhood already decked out for Christmas. Lights, trees, action! Of course the stores have had their Christmas merchandise out since prior to Halloween, commercials are in full force, and one radio station is already playing holiday music, 24/7. I can see being smart and putting your lights up while it is nice and warm outside, but turning them on? Now you're just asking for trouble from your overstressed and freaked out neighbor. And when this neighbor gives you a dirty Scrooge-like look as she drive past your house, you're going to say "Are you for real and this crabby all the time or only on Tuesday nights?"

Peace and Comfort

The irony is incredible. As I wrote yesterday's posting about honoring our veterans, and the incredible sacrifices they make, I never imagined one of them would be at the hands of one of their own. An American soldier killing American soldiers.

Fort Hood has suffered some of the greatest casualties in Iraq. Now they have suffered that at their home base on U.S. soil. Yesterday's mass shooting took place in an area where young soldiers are readying to be deployed. They expect this chaos and danger to ensue overseas, not where they are being trained and graduating. Eager to serve, and yet unable. Peace and comfort to the families. They are the ones left behind to endure so much pain.

Thank You for Your Service

Next Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day. The purpose of this holiday is to honor American veterans of all wars.

It is observed on this day, because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, which was November 11, 1915. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first "Armistice Day" in November of 1919. In 1954, Armistice Day was officially changed to Veterans Day, thanks to a shoe store owner named, Al King. He felt that it should be changed to honor all veterans, not just those from World War I, and Congress and President Eisenhower agreed.

Somewhere along the way, Veterans Day was moved to be observed on the fourth Monday of October. This was in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This was an act that became law in 1971 that basically moved holidays like George Washington's birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day to Mondays so federal employees could have more three-day weekends (I kid you not). Ultimately, Congress merged George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays into President's Day--because let's be honest, who has time to acknowledge two historical presidents' birthdays twice in one month? I'm just surprised Congress didn't rearrange Jesus Christ's birthday to be on a more convenient day as well. Anyway, in 1978 the observance of this holiday was moved back to November 11, thanks to Gerald Ford, because when they tried to celebrate it on October 25, 1971, people were confused and not happy about the break with tradition.

And so, next Wednesday, we will honor the men and women of this country who have served and sacrificed so much for our freedom, as well as for the freedom of others. I cannot even begin to understand what that sacrifice must feel like. To give up your own freedom of choice, because when you join the military, you're pretty much done making choices. You do what you're told, when you're told and you do it in whatever country they decide they want you to do it in. You do it with no questions asked and you do it for the greater good. You say goodbye to loved ones for great lengths of time and pray that you will see them again. You endure difficult living conditions, extreme physical conditioning and pain, and you lay your life on the line. You get sent into war to defend people who don't even want you there, and yet you continue to do your job with pride and honor. That is an awesome sense of responsibility and conviction.

I cannot even fathom saying goodbye to my son, husband, father, mother, brother, sister, or friend as they head off to war, knowing that it's possible they might not come back. How do you prepare for something like that? That is an awesome sense of commitment and strength.

I'm sure that there are many reasons why people join the military. Some join for the education, the travel, the benefits, the excitement, the discipline, and the honor. Although the reasons may vary, you can be sure that there is one common thread, and that is to serve their country. In peacetime and wartime.

My niece, Jyl, has a sister-in-law who was in the military and did several tours in the war-torn areas. I remember Jyl sharing with us Kim's experiences and photos. The boot camp, the deployment, the frenzy, and the camaraderie.

Recently, I reconnected with some high school classmates on Facebook and learned that some of them have strong ties to the military. One of them did five tours of combat and is currently in the military army special forces. He was seriously injured in 2007 and has spent the last two years recovering. When I learned of his story since high school, I was amazed. I thought how can that be? "Your sweet Keith from ski club...you can't be going to war!" Because he was 18 when I last saw him, that's how I still envisioned him.

Another classmate, Greg, was also in the military and he is now preparing himself for when his youngest son leaves for Iraq in January. He will be working in the military police along side the Iraqi police.

Finally, my friend, Laura, has a son who is going to be deployed as a medic. I'm sure she is terrified and dreading the day when she must say goodbye. She belongs to a group called Michigan Military Moms and they meet twice a month as support for each other and they provide support to our troops as well. One way they do this by gathering donations for care packages that are sent to the troops overseas.

I'm ashamed to say that because the war is so far away, I sometimes get complacent. Because it's been going on for so long, I tend to skip over the articles with foreign city names that I can't pronounce. I get confused trying to understand religious beliefs that I can't relate to. I apologize for my aloofness and ignorance.

Veterans Day will have a different meaning for me this year. It will not be a day set aside for heading to Macy's to get an extra 20% off during their Veterans Day sale. How it became a tradition to honor a military veteran by getting a great deal on clothes or furniture, I'll never understand. I guess it happened the same way it did for Memorial Day.

The best deal, of course, would be an end to the wars. When my dad was in the service, he was being deployed to Korea for a tour of duty in the Korean War. While he was on a ship heading overseas, the war came to an end. Can you imagine that?

To all those who have served, or are currently serving, "thank you, thank you, thank you" from the bottom of my free and humble heart.