Wounded Warriors and the Patio Snake - The things we do for others.

Today my husband saved me from a snake. Ok, this sounds like an awesome act of heroism but in reality it was a very tiny snake that could have killed me if it had been near me which it was not. The tiny enemy was on our patio when I spotted it and my husband, ever so bravely, scooped it up with a dust pan and flung it into the abyss. This all went on while I shrieked from behind the safety of our sliding glass door. You see I noticed this snake when I went to let out our dogs and I was donned only in a T- shirt and my underpants. Those of you that are close to me are not surprised by this because you know that I hate pants. I was more in fear that this tiny menace would slither past my naked ankles then actually bite me. The whole point is my very kind husband made quick to dispose of the snake for me instead of making me tackle this task myself. I found this to be quite cunning.
It made me think of the things we do for others. For those we care about and those we dont know.
Tomorrow a group of my friends and myself are getting up before the sun to run a race to support wounded warriors. To support and raise money for those that have given of themselves for us, those they dont know. I think we all have that in us, that ability to give of ourselves in a way that is so utterly selfless that others would consider us a hero. It is simply a matter of going there on instinct. The ability to go to a place of selflessness for some comes naturally and I often wonder why. Why is it that some have no hesitation when   they think of protecting others? If only we knew so that we might teach it to our children. My husband certainly has it and I can only hope that someday our children will too.

Osama and The Political Clash

I am not sure exactly where this whole situation when awry. For me personally everything surrounding this was a roller coaster of emotions. As the wife of a United State's Marine that has served a total of 4 combat deployments I must say that this pivotal point in world history was one that was celebrated in my heart. However, I am worried about the future and the backlash that is seemingly inevitable.

As my face book news feed began to fill on the night of May 1st it seemed that we were all on the same page. Everyone thanked the troops, their families, those that lost loved in the wars overseas, and mourned for those that were killed on 9/11. It was for one night that the entire United States was one in patriotism. However, that lasted little more then 24 hours.

Soon it became another political game. Who should get credit for the death of Osama? Was it a republican win or a democrat win. Was it Obama? Did Obama have the greatest victory of his Presidency and thus seal is re-election? I just cant seem to wrap my head around the fact that for me this war was not about the white house or who gets credit for saying "go ahead and kill the guy that slaughtered innocent American's of all races and religions." For me it was about lives, flesh and blood, fear and times where I had no idea if my husband would ever come from war. For my husband it was about following in his grandfather's footsteps, about being a United States Marine, preventing a draft, and about seeing the twin towers fall while innocent people died.

How about we just hold our loved ones a little bit closer tonight and stop being so competitive all of the time. No one has to be right or wrong today.... we can all just be American.