Dear Soldier Whom I Ignored At the Gas Station

I'm so sorry I ignored you.  I really wanted to do that thing people do, not the clapping-in-the-airport thing because we were at a gas station, not an airport, and there weren't other people around to clap with me and it would have looked sarcastic on my part (which it most definitely would NOT have been), so No, not the clapping-in-the-airport thing.

That other thing.  The thing where I walk up to you, stick out my hand, and say with reverence (and shyness, of course), "Thank you.  I just want to shake your hand and say 'thank you.'"  And it would be barely above a whisper, especially in the late afternoon wind coming off of Clear Lake, and you'd say, "What's that again?" as you shook my offered hand, and I'd get all embarrassed and probably over-compensate by shouting it at you, word for lame word.

That thing.  That Thank You Soldier thing.

But if you only knew me you'd be thanking me for not doing the shaking hands thing because I was at that moment sort of covered in barf and bits of sodden Kleenex, which would have put a definite damper on the encounter, a low point even for a Middletown gas station.  I guess I could have saluted you, but I really didn't want to get my hand that close to my face.  I spared you.

I also spared you the shrieks of a mortified carsick child, already cowering in the back seat of our car and trying not to be seen in her undies, since her pants were stowed in the trunk in their new mantle of partially digested cheeseburger and ice cream cone.  Shaking your hand would likely have brought attention to our car, doors open in the chill January wind.  It would have become a "what's that smell?" moment.  I spared you, and me, and the aforementioned (yet unidentified) barf-covered half-dressed child.

So thank you for your service, young man, to me and my reeking family, and to your country.  You are a credit to us all.

Sincerely,

Laurie LaGrone
(the one who kept walking by you to the trash bin)

Comments

[Da Goddess]

Much better way to say thanks. Definitely.

[San Diego Momma]

This was lovely. Even with the barf bits and the other disgusting stuff you talked about. :)

[Auds at Barking Mad]

Marcy summed up my sentiments perfectly! Although, had that been me, I would have been too busy retching in the nearest trash can to even notice the soldier. The smell alone of the sick kid in the car would have done me in!

[Suz broughton]

This was a fine way to say "thank you" and more sanitary.

[Jason]

I can't decide if this post was meant to be heartfelt or hysterical! Both I guess.

I have never once shaken a soldier's hand and said, "Thank you." How awful of me.

I have, however, had several barfy experiences with children like this. Or an oops Diego peed his pants in the car and I'm trying to change him in the back seat of a Coco's parking lot experience.

[Chesapeake Bay Woman]

The fact that you even remembered seeing a soldier in the middle of your own personal battlefield is nothing short of amazing, but the fact that you feel bad for not acknowledging him is nothing short of wonderful.

[The Glamorous Life]

I am sure he was happy to fight for your daughter's right to throw up in a free country.

And I am also sure he immensely appreciates you NOT SHAKING HIS HAND. Talk about germ warfare. Whose side are you on anyway?

:)

[Kyddryn]

Aww...not fare to make me laugh and sigh at the same time!

Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who, along with her son, thanks soldiers, police officers, fire fighters for their service whenever she can...which is never often enough)