Six on the brain #5

1. Saturday began like most every other Saturday: I stumbled to the can and did what I do, threw on some clothes and then made myself some coffee. I poured my dog some food and then, after she gobbled it up, I let her out.

   This wasn’t without purpose because I always grab the paper when Sophie does what she does. Back inside, I slugged the joe into my cup… a little cream, a little sweetener. I removed the plastic bag from the paper and unfurled it.

   The picture on the front page stopped me in my tracks. My heart fell to my stomach because of the picture there to the left, that of Navy Hospital Corpsman John Dragneff.

   In a lot of respects I feel fortunate because I don’t know anyone (that I know of) who’s currently serving overseas and fighting the War on Terror.

   But pictures like the one you see here (taken by RMN photojournalist Chris Schneider, © News) and the stories behind them humanize the realities of war in ways I never thought possible.

   Seeing Dragneff, unable to contain his tears as he watched fellow Navy Hospital Corpsman Christopher A. Anderson’s casket loading onto a commercial jet in Philadelphia, dropped me into the chair at my right. Dragneff was escorting his best friend Anderson, a Longmont, Colo. native, home.

   I set my coffee down and sobbed uncontrollable, shoulders-heaving tears.

   It’s not the first time I’d wept so. My youngest sister served in Iraq for about a year and came home this past February. I remember sitting at work and ordering her a care package from TreatAnySoldier.com last Christmas. As I typed up my note to her, I was so proud of her and scared for her that I couldn’t help but lose it.

   I also broke down as I read Final salute, by the Rocky’s Jim Sheeler. This series won Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler a set of Pulitzer Prizes for 2006… not that that’s what they set out to do when they began reporting.

   So, now, I’m torn.

   I know that pulling out troops now would likely have dire consequences down the road. We were sold a pack of half-truths—if not out-and-out lies—to get us to support the war. But, alas, we’re there and that demands that we fight as best we can for the people of Iraq and the notion of Democracy.

   But I know it can’t continue as it is. Pictures like that of Corpsman Dragneff are compelling enough.

   Some may argue that showing us these shots is undermining the effort. I disagree. The very manner in which the war has been conducted since the toppling of Sadaam has done that. For all the detail that was tended to, somebody didn’t quite think through the ending very well.

   I’m not going to pretend I have the answers. I’ll leave that to people who’re much smarter than I am.

   But with each passing day I believe that it’s time, Mr. President. It’s time to start bringing our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, and our husbands and wives home.

2. I’ve been watching the trailers for Rocky Balboa with a lot of interest. I have a fond spot in my heart for the series and I remember seeing the first sequel at the theater with my mom.

   I watched the horrible one with Drago, the evil Commie, with my college roommates. Mom, Dad… please skip ahead… I was stoned out of my head at the time but I liked it at the time. Maybe the former has something to do with the latter.

   But each time the clips for the new one come on, all I see is an old guy trying to box.

   Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m still gonna see it this weekend.

3. Whoopee! Heading to Vegas next month. Should be a blast.

4. This week on The Real World… the roommates go to Monarck.

   I realize Denver can be a bit of a cowtown, but for cripes sakes, there’s more than one bar here!

5. What happens in Pigwell?

6. Finally… the Rams send three to the Pro Bowl! Nice show for a team struggling to .500 football.

Bonus Six: Merry Christmas everyone!

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