Fallen Soldiers Returning Home - On the News Last Night

Tom and I were watching the news last night, and for the first time since 1990, we saw military men quietly remove the casket of a fallen soldier from an airplane that landed back on U.S. soil (from Iraq). The first person the Army asked if they wanted the small, quiet tribute of the removal of the fallen soldier said, "yes, please show the country" the sacrifice. It made the loss of life from war more real. It made it more realistic for me, personally. After all, it's mostly during funerals that people are overcome with the emotion of loss. Maybe its because we just lost our friend Beverlee, and I didn't get to pay my last respects to her physical self. I don't know. Regardless, I cried while watching the video of that fallen soldier on ABC News. It was a beautiful and silent event.
One song that Dolly Parton did about what families of soldiers face back here on the home front was "Welcome Home." It talks about soldiers that do and don't make it back home. This song and video touched me, too, and given what we just saw on the news, I thought it appropriate to post here. Hope you find it worthwhile, too.

Dolly Parton   More CMT Music   More CMT Music Videos

Just Wondering... if will apply to humans

I saw this article in the news today and am wondering, if this applies to humans there are a number of states that may be devoid of population in the future...(that's mean!)
Extinct Tasmanian "tiger" DNA has clues to demise
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - DNA taken from the hair of two extinct Tasmanian "tigers" suggests the Australian marsupials last seen 70 years ago may have become too inbred to survive as a species, researchers reported on Monday. http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE50B72T20090112?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Meeting people around the holidays

I've met some nice people over the last couple of weeks through different situations. Maybe it's the holidays, maybe not. In the last week, Tom and I posted some free lumber and a free 6.5 foot pre-lit Christmas tree on Craigslist.com. (We bought a new tree together this week). Weeks before we also posted a free washer and dryer, that one of Tom's mom's neighbors wanted to give away.
Through these ads, I recieved a lot of email requests for all of them. I received several emails from people who couldn't afford a Christmas tree of any kind, or washer and dryer. It was heartbreaking to hear them. Regardless, the people that responded first and got the items were thankful, the others were understanding and appreciative for a simple email telling them the item went to the first respondent.
I also belong to bookmooch.com, a free book-swap service I enjoy. You post the books you want to mail to whoever wants them, and then use the web site to contact people who have a book you want. All you pay for is postage to mail your books out. The website maintains an inventory for you on-line. I've met a number of really nice folks there- just emailing about books they want to "mooch" or that I want to "mooch" from them. A woman in England noticed I had a dog book on my wishlist (as did about 20 others) and she emailed me to ask if I still wanted it. I was just contacted by a college senior studying marketing, now into superheroes (he swapped a couple of books with me).
The bottom line is that even if you have a bad commute, or someone takes your seat on the metro, or cuts you off on the road, there are a lot of good people out there, too. Just look for them.

Cell Phone Replaced

No one turned in my cell phone to the Maryland Science Center- so obviously, someone walked off with it, sadly. Such a poor reflection on humanity. Anyway, I had to buy a new phone late Sat. night, and was able to keep the same number fortunately. Cell phone companies (mine is T-Mobile) are now really good about preventing thieves from using your phone if you call 'em immediately like I did. So, I'm another $125 in the hole - but at least I can talk to you! :)