A Moment In Time

My husband had two missions last Saturday. I didn't go. I could've gone, but I didn't, because I didn't think I could handle it. Some ass-crack of society decided to write to a newspaper that he was pissed that the Patriot Guard held up traffic, so that all the motorcycles could go through. He said it was as if anytime the Patriot Guard came to town that he felt they threw away all the rules. I read this guy's letter to the editor. And naturally, I felt that tingling in the back of my neck. The kind of tingling that makes the blood rush to my head, until I see nothing but red. And Chris, having known what kind of effect the letter had on me, told me why he gave it to me to read.

Apparently, since my last verbal bashing to a Galesburg newspaper, people started emailing him asking when I'd write again. Asking if I'd take this guy on. I would have, I'd mentally written it all in my head. The very next day, someone beat me to it. I'm happy for that. To tell you the truth, they'd never have printed what I would've said for all the vulgarity it would have been laden with.

Still, I feel the need to say that it isn't throwing away the rules to form a funeral procession. I'm so sorry that someone had the audacity to die and hold up traffic right when this shit-faced pantywaste decided to go for a Sunday drive. IS IT REALLY ASKING TOO MUCH FOR YOU TO WAIT A FEW EXTRA MINUTES AT A STOP LIGHT, SO THAT A FUNERAL PROCESSION CAN GO THROUGH?! IS IT!? No, I really want to know. Someone died and this guy complains that he had to wait? Are you fucking kidding me?

Breathe.

This. And then, I get a phone call from a small voice at the other end of the phone line. He's a Vet at the Soldier's and Sailor's home, which is a block away from my house. All he wants is a meeting. Information. I think, no problem. Then I speak more with him. Turns out, he's in the infirmerie. Turns out, he's not happy with the VFW. He has heard about the Patriot Guard and wants to meet with Chris because he fears he doesn't have long. And he wants someone to be there to honor him. Somehow, I managed to choke down the sobs long enough to set up a time for Chris to go.

If people only knew what their words meant. If only the guy that wrote that letter to the editor could hear the voice of a man planning his own funeral. It doesn't take anything to stop and give a few moments of respect. It doesn't cost anything. It really isn't a convenience. It might be annoying to you, but for one man, it may mean all the difference in the world. Is that really asking so much?