Last night I had grand plans of being in bed by 9:00. This used to be normal for me, but now it’s an occasion. For someone who’s awake at 4:00 a.m., you’d think it’d be regular practice. Not so.
At 10:00 I’m still up running around the house, doing laundry, checking email, listening to the news. As I’m carrying clothes from the dryer to my bedroom I hear a story on the news of a wife who’s recently lost her husband, a soldier, in Afghanistan. I recognize the name immediately. I know them. I. Know. Them.
Oh, God.
She and I went to school together, like grade school. And junior high, and high school. We lost touch in college— she found the man she wanted to marry, and I found student loans and beer— but living in this somewhat small city, we’d see each other’s families often. I remember when she came to my house to introduce me to him. I remember seeing her father at the doctor’s office and him talking of his grand kids. And now, nearly ten years later, I was hearing their names on the news. Seeing their faces. Listening to her tear-filled words as she described her husband and the sacrifice he made.
My heart sank. I’ve yet to pick it up. I felt the need to talk to someone immediately, to tell them what I’d heard. I cannot believe it. Someone I know, someone I care about, people I shared memories with going through this. It is awful. It is so very awful.
This man died last week, the same week wherein a family with questionable sanity and parenting skills (at best) made the news for lying. And here we are, our media, trying to figure them out. Spending all damn day analyzing every bit of some ridiculous scenario and all the while, people are dying for this country. Dying so we can afford that very right to call ridiculousness news for days on end.
I know it is relative and for those who didn’t grow up in a military town or who haven’t had ones they love join the military, it’s a little removed. I get that. But I don’t buy that after eight years in Afghanistan, we get to back-burner this. I do not buy it. And no one should.
One of the hardest things about hearing about these soldiers is that their fellow soldiers, the people they were with in the last moments of their lives, are still there. They are left behind to deal with the loss of their friend, to continue with their mission, and to see it through. Many of them will tell you they don’t know exactly what that mission is anymore, but all of them will tell you they are proud to do it. That pride, that service, should not be forgotten. No matter what we’re calling news.
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Sadly, most Americans have such fickle and fleeting memories that it takes events such as this (that hit close to home) to remind everyone that there are things in this world more important than who you’re going to vote for on American Idol next week.
May God comfort the families of the fallen. :/
I am so very sorry to hear this. We are so used to hearing of the deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan on the news that we are almost becoming used to it. Until, like you just did, you hear about someone you know, and then we are reminded that real people, with families and hopes and dreams, are dying.
wow. im so very sorry, for you and for your friend and their family.
My condolences and thanks for the many sacrifices your friend has made.
Ugh this is so terrible. I’m sorry.
so horrible. it makes me sad how easy it is for most americans to forget that we are still fighting wars overseas even if is no longer front page news.
That is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for your friend.
Several years back, I saw Dan Rather speak and he talked a lot about this very thing. About how news isn’t at all what it used to be – about informing you of what’s going on in the world; about getting to the truth of situations; about education. It’s all sensationalism and ratings now. It’s awful. I hope one day people stop being fascinated with the BS like balloon boy and we can get back to understanding what’s really going on in the world – and who needs our help.
“No matter what we’re calling news.”
So, so true. My heart goes out to your friend and her family. It’s so hard to hear, and to think about, but it’s happening every day, and it’s what the news SHOULD be covering.
That must have shocking to hear on TV. I’m so sorry for your loss and your friend’s. I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like.