Volunteering for Operation Gratitude

You can feel however you wish about the government and the "wars" we are fighting, but don't forget that most all of the military personnel in our various conflicts around the world would probably be doing anything else if they could.  Many (like my father so many years ago) joined the service as a way of escaping their hometowns and getting some skills for work and life.  Watching the recruiting videos and believing the hype, I'm sure there are plenty of soldiers who thought they were signing up to learn skills to "work with computers" or some such and instead ended up in the desert holding an AR-15.

So, thinking of these poor souls, Chelsea and I volunteered to help pack Christmas boxes for Operation Gratitude who for those who don't know, package boxes to send to the troops at the holidays.  While we had a good time helping out, it was way overcrowded.  I am certain that the whole operation would have gone smoother with about half of those in attendance helping out.  But in any case, it felt good to do something good for someone.  It just gets you thinking about how good we really have it as Americans.  As much as a negative, pessimistic person I am I am still glad I am not a soldier.  There.  I am thankful for something after all.