The worm has turned folks

[nadinbrzezinski]

Edited on Thu May-03-07 12:38 AM by nadinbrzezinski
So I went today to put together a care package \ slash demo for troops in the field, who are holding, I kid you not, a gaming convention in Iraq

So I went and got the dice, and got books out of storage, and then went over to Ralphs to get the rest of the package. Not like I'd ever send toilet paper to Orcon, but sure to ziguratcon, every day of the week

(by the way, here is the link in case any of you gamers feel like sending something... http://www.gamegrene.com/node/790 )

Anyhow I am filling my paperwork at the UPS Store, while they pack this stuff up... and a gentleman in line asks, "is that for a troop?"

Well yes... he tried to actually give me some money to cover this... and for once this is an actual honest to goodness business expense, but that is another story.

So we struck a conversation, and some of the people in line actually asked some questions. The disconnect that exists between the troops in the field average muricans is amazing... but they were asking questions... after all this guy has a Buddy in the field, a second one who has been called, he himself has been called and my husband retired from the service.

One of the other people in line is also a bidness man, and he was all for bush at one time... he said he loved my T-Shirt, "world's most dangerous fool," with chucknenuts mug. He asked questions and was amazed that the commercial sample including beef jerky, and bathroom paper and foot powder. I tell you, the worm has turned folks. I live in a fairly red area and for the first time in years I was not challenged for sending a care package to troops... but was actually asked detailed questions.

Oh and the kid at the game store. Well the website said that among other things they are sharing dice (the horror and if you are a gamer you'll get it). So I went and got about ten full sets, not the most expensive, just full sets. Kid behind the counter said, "oh for ziguratcon? What they can't get dice?"

No, there is no corner store that sells dice.

Oh the disconnect.... but this is a happy day, the worm has turned....

(ed for clarity)

[Sherman A1]

1. I'm in

I will check what I have left from when I closed the store (in 2001) and see what I can send.

:yourock:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. They will love it

what amazes me, (truly shop talk now) that the big ones ain't in the we're supporting, them, but the second tier (and in my case fourth tier) companies are.

Amazing ain't it?

[Sherman A1]

3. No real surprise here

I will send you an IM on some ideas of who to contact...

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I could contact GAMA

but you know what? No, if the employee at a game store knew about it, and he is all but political, so can GAMA and its memebers find out

To me it is just another example of... damn it folks, get your head out of your ass... but we both know them.

[Sherman A1]

5. Wouldn't hurt to send them an email

It's for the guys in the field after all and frankly they might not know about it. None of us can be on top of everything. I know when I was Exec Director (for a very short time) it was overwhelming.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. True, will send them an email

why not the guys in the field might be shocked if they get THAT kind of support

[Uben]

7. Hey, you are a hero!

Hey guy, these are the words from soldiers in Iraq, not me. We too have sent packages to the troops, no one we knew, but we picked a unit in Balad. My wife's name is Carol, so she decided to go to anysoldier.com and pick out a lady named Carol. Not only did she find a soldier named Carol, but they are the same age, which happens to be........drum roll please........56 !
Thi9s lady was a member of the reserve in Georgia, and got called up.

Anyway, she wrote us back and thanked us for all the art supplies we had sent, and asked if there was anything we would like from Iraq. She said we were the real American heros for backing soldiers in Iraq, like yourself. A couple of weeks later, the company commander sends a "certificate of Appreciation", and we get all sorts of artwork from the soldiers in Carol's unit!

I was amazed. We even got pictures of her and her unit there in Balad.

[Sherman A1]

8. Well, in this case

nadinbrzezinsk, is the hero here. (in the case you mentioned, Your Wife is the hero) I'm just a guy trying to clean out leftover stuff (that I couldn't bring myself to just toss in the trash) from a store that closed 6 years ago.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Look the troops will like it

and I'm not a hero, just soembody who understands they need this stuff... at a very visceral level


By the way some comments today

We need them home like yesterday

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. In these many years of getting packages to the troops

and this one is a truly a mixture of needed stuff and commerical smaples, we've goten one letter from a trooper thanking us. Otherwise, apart of Joe for Clack whose son will get another care package soon, we don't get any. We do it becasue we know it is critical for Americans and the troops to keep a certain level of connection.

:-)

thanks for suporting the troops though, they need it

It does not matter if they thank us or not

:yourock: