I'm Proud To Be An American.

So it has been an interesting last 24 hours to say the least.  We enjoyed lovely weekend with family and friends and definitely did not want it to end.  Last night after putting Lizzy to bed I walked out to find an NBC Special Report stating that they were expecting the president to announce that they had captured and killed Osama Bin Laden.  What an evil, evil man and although it is probably wrong, it gave me immediate pleasure to hear that he was gone. 

It crossed my mind a few times between last night and my 5pm flight tonight that flying today could be interesting to say the least.  Security was maybe a hair tighter and people definitely seemed a bit more on edge.  That being said, tonight was the first flight I've had the captain of the plane step into first class (before take-off and door closure of course) and thank each person sitting in first class for their commitment to Alaska Airlines.  Impressive customer service ... too bad their baggage handling is severely lacking.  Okay back to the point, for the most part it was business as usual. 

Until I began chatting with the lady next to me.  If you know anything about me, I generally do not make small talk on the plane.  I plug-in and fall asleep, work, watch a movie, anything but small talk.  Boy am I glad I began talking with this lady. 

She was on her way to see her 30 year old son who is currently stationed in Germany but has spent the last year in Afghanistan.  He works for the Navy and is an officer with central intelligence.  He touched down on U.S. soil for the first time last night in over a year.  She has not seen him in well over a year.  He was literally on his way to Washington (D.C. that is) for a debriefing of his last mission in Afghanistan.  Impressive enough the way this story was.  I was in no way prepared for what was coming.

He went into the Navy and became an officer so that and I quote, "no one would cause his family harm every again."  Let's back up two steps.  He and his mom watched Tower One knowing that his aunt, her sister, was still inside.  See they knew this because her brother, mother and father (his uncle, grandma and grandpa) all worked in Tower Two and had gotten out but had been communicating with her sister.  She is describing the day the tower fell, how the two of them were glued to the television.  Her parents and her brother on cell phones trying to keep in touch with her sister.  Telling her to get out.  Then the tower fell.  She said that when she heard her dad scream ... at that moment ... was when her son looked at her and his career path was forever changed.  He WOULD NOT let that pain happen again. 

Please remember our service men and women tonight, tomorrow and always in your prayers.  I fly a lot, I'm gone a lot.  It pales in comparison to what these men and women do day in and day out so that we can talk how we like, work how we like, worship how we like ... the list goes on and on.

Elizabeth, if there is one thing mommy and daddy can teach you it is acceptance.  Acceptance of all things and all people.  Those that are different, those that are hurting, those that can teach you ... please know we all share this beautiful planet therefore we should be polite, heartwarming, forgiving of those around us. 

After all this ... it is time for bed. 
God Bless!