story4794.xml

story4794.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was painting the living room ceiling, waiting for the plumber to come and work on the bathrooms. I went to the post office to mail a package and they had their radio on. I noticed everyone was kinda dazed, so I asked what had happened. I found myself with that same stunned feeling. Thoughts started rolling around in my mind about the Nuclear Weapons plant on the outer limits of our own town. When I got back to the new house, I phoned my husband who was with our children at our then-previous home and told him to turn the television on. Our plumber, Rob, came over about an hour later and after watching some footage on the TV he said "That sounds like the work of Osama Bin Laden ". I asked "Who is that?". He was surprised that I didn't keep up on current events more. He told me that while he served in the Armed Forces he was specially trained to protect the places where the President appeared. He said he and his wife both served in the same area. He also voiced his apprehension about another war, since he now had an 8 month old child... but without hesitation in his voice added that he'd gladly defend the land that he loved.
I learned alot that day. First of all I learned who Sadam is. Secondly I learned that I should pay closer attention to the world news. Like Rob said, it concerns all of us as Americans. And thirdly, I learned what the service did for an everyday man like our plumber. The detail and perfection that he would always strive for when he did work for us was no doubt instilled in him by his commanders. He treated my family with respect and dignity, which is something you find very little of these days. But another thing stood out even stronger, and that was the love for his country. A love so strong, he'd be willing to part company of his darling baby in order to make sure that his child would grow up in The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave. What an awesome legacy!