Last night at the Pacers game (which was horribly referreed but the Pacers won anyway — as someone remarked recently, “you can play the Pacers, but you can’t win against them”), it was our pleasure to sit directly in front of a large group of America’s finest — Army troops only 5 days back from Iraq and getting ready to go home to their families tomorrow. I spoke longest with Sgt. Roney, who looked alert but tired, and was clearly ready to go home to her family, and I wish her and her cohorts all the best.
I’ve never been so moved in my life as when Sally walked over to two of the other ladies before the game started and thanked them for serving and protecting those of us who stay home and keep the fires burning. She gave them both hugs and kisses.
And of course the gentlemen were properly appreciative of the Pacemates. I leaned back at one point and said, “they don’t make them like that in Iraq, do they?” And the men said, “Hell no!”
God, these are fine young people. They do the dirty work so we can keep living our lives.
God bless our troops. You can play them, but you can’t win against them.
A "surly curmudgeon[], suspicious and lacking in altruism." (Robert A. Heinlein)