Life's excitement heats up!

Yesterday started out as a pretty basic, boring day.

I have been busy trying to stitch up the "bargain" fleece and satin trim I bought in Mexico into my "traditional" veteran's blankets (nice if I got them distributed while the weather is still cold!). The sewing machine humms along and (in between walks with the dog) progress is slow but steady.

Took time off in the morning to paint a couple hours on a trailer Gary has been building in his garage workshop. His back does not do well with such tasks and so I was glad to help out...but then back to the sewing machine again.

I took time off later for my usual favorite "Extreme Home Makeover" but otherwise kept at the sewing. At about 10:30 it was time to shut down the computer but I longed for the "thrill of the hunt" which is how I look at my online dog tag research activities. There sat the small stack of replies I have gotten lately from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

I had been sending inquiries to NPRC just a couple a day for the past couple months and then finally sent them a box of 500 inquiries and am bracing for the onslaught of replies I am expecting...another reason to get my blankets done.

Well, I picked one file with NPRC reply, totally at random...and actually based on the fact that the information provided by NPR was very short. Good one to just "check out" before I got to bed. Well once I got started I was "hooked" on the track of what ended up being a very high profile veteran that I believe we have the dog tag on (confidentiality keeps me from giving too many details) but it is exciting and also interesting reading about the other facets of this gentleman's life prior to his death in 1990. I finally turned the computer off at 1:28 AM...only after sending details of the "find" to Jess Devaney at TOP in Tucson.

This morning I got up early to walk the dog before heading out for my usual water aerobics class. At precisely 7 AM the phone started ringing. It seems that the box of 500 requests at NPRC have been distributed to their 65 "research technicians" and they all have questions of me at the same time.

Most of the questions are...do you have any more information?...from there I explain that we are working from dog tags that have limited information and have been subjected to a number of traumas plus the "elements" for the past 35 plus years since they were "lost" by their owners in Vietnam. It seems once I explain, they get into the spirit of the "cause" and want to help as much as they possibly can in our quest to return the tags. It is heart warming and I tell them each "thank you" for the extra effort they are putting into the research.

In the middle of fielding these multiple calls (never made it to water aerobics), I just got an e-mail that indicates that ABC news may still do a special program on the retrieval and return of dog tags to veterans. This would include me being interviewed with dog tags and them featuring the efforts of TOP and stories of many of the dog tags that TOP has returned.

WOW...life can go so quickly from basic to exciting to exhilarating! Hang on...there is surely more to come once all those responses come back from NPRC...ummm think I better try to get the blankets done today...wish me luck!

Tears of Compassion

It is often in the least expected locations that we are moved to tears.

Yesterday I took our dog to the vet's office. As I walked through the parking lot it was not difficult to spot, just outside the door, the run down van covered with military and political stickers. I immediately spotted the Vietnam flag sticker, a duplicate of the ones on our vehicles, a trademark that the vehicle belongs not just to a Veteran but to a Vietnam Veteran.

Inside the front of the van were not just one but three well loved poodle mix dogs. They eagerly awaited the return of their owner...who I now knew was a Vietnam Vet.

The veterinarian office is very small with just three waiting chairs. As I entered I immediately spotted the large, burly man in his old worn military fatigues. His hat bore multiple military pins and he was heavily bearded with long hair...a real back woods appearance...not to mention aroma. A "daily" shower is definitely not in this gentleman's routine.

As we waited for our turn with the veterinarian assistants, this man was very careful to offer a chair or hold the door for others coming through. As he tried to peek into my kennel box to see Misty, we struck up a conversation about our dogs. I could tell he had a heart of gold and would do anything for his canine companions.

Soon a frantic man came through the door, carrying a large kennel box. He spoke in a loud voice..."I need help NOW". He further exclaimed to the attendants that he had a dog that was VERY sick or perhaps even dead! He said he had brought the dog in the previous day on an emergency basis but to no avail. This morning, when he thought the dog was dead, he had put it in a bag and prepared to "dispose" of it...that was until the bag moved!

The attendants quickly came out and whisked the kennel box into the back room to give emergency treatment and fully assess the dog's status. Just minutes later I glanced at the Vietnam vet now seated beside me. He turned his body to the side withdrawing up into a hunched over posture as he moved away his glasses to wipe the big alligator tears from his cheeks. His body rocked with the sobs of emotion over someone else's dog that was in distress.

He reminded me of my own Vietnam Veteran who now wears his emotions on his shirt sleeve and is easily moved to tears. Just the night before we had attended a rousing Veterans' Day tribute at the local casino. All the veterans in the audience were celebrated and applauded...but when do these forgotten few back in the forest get their tribute. It is so typical of the Vietnam Veteran to withdraw and not socialize giving us little opportunity to pay tribute. I think we each need to seek out the opportunity to return that thanks whenever it is possible.

Finally, the vet tech brought my kennel box back out and, as I headed for the door, the burly veteran rose and opened the door for me. I was so moved by the entire experience that I could not resist reaching out, hugging this "aromatic" hulk and thanking him for his service to our country. I caught him "off guard" but the result was an instant brightening...almost coming to attention and thanking me for the sentiment.

I have to tell you that it brightened not only his day but mine as well. So I challenge you...try it, you will like it...and you can make a real difference in someone's life by just reaching out in the most unlikely of circumstances. It may sound like a bumper sticker sentiment but...HUG A VETERAN!