the little things in life
I write romance. I write military romance. I research the military to write said military romance and there is certain research you just can’t do on Google therefore, whether they are at a fire base in Afghanistan or at a desk stateside, I talk to soldiers and Marines sometimes more than I talk to my best friend. Why? Because I’ve moved way past the research level and into the friendship zone.
About a week ago the unthinkable happened. Something that changed the lives of those left behind forever. Two days ago, it happened again. Today, I asked my deployed friend what I could do for him and the platoon. He jokingly said he could use a hug, which of course, half a world away I couldn’t provide. Then he said, “Vienna Sausages. That’s what the guy sitting next to me wants.” I said okay. Anything else? “I’d love a jar of sliced jalepenos. Oh, and maybe some of that Chef Boyardee Ravioli. And chips.”
I guess it’s the simple things in life, the familiar, that we cling to at the most trying times like this. At first you simply go through the motions and try to remember to keep breathing. Exhaustion takes over and your body eventually remembers how to sleep again. And then one day, food becomes more than just a necessity and you find yourself actually hungry again, and craving the things that remind you of better times.
So tomorrow I will go to the grocery store and I will buy vienna sausage, and sliced jalepenos, and canned ravioli and chips, and I will shove as many as I can into a flat rate Priority Mail box because I can’t send a hug through the mail, but perhaps I can send a little comfort, even if it’s only comfort food.
<3<3<3<3