AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.. AND SELFISH, AND SPOILED....

CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Sept 13, 2003 | Unknown

[carlo3b]

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.. AND SELFISH, AND SPOILED....

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long , uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well.

I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony.

With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes.

The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up....... Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought. The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U. S. Marines returning home from Iraq!!!

Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people
cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was
not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand.

These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues. I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life I took for granted others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" those Heroes going home to their loved ones. I attempted to
get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken
for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!
WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

My Dad, a former Lt. Col in the USAF, with security clearance that allowed him to have Kissinger as his passenger, worked collecting tires for a retread company for a year after he left the Air Force.>>

My father retired in the middle of the Vietnam war. Same thing. Some things don't change.


It has been my experience that if one must be unemployed anywhere in the world, this is the country to do it in...>>

True. As the bumper sticker says, "If you were born an American, congratulations! You have already won."

[olliemb]

Congrats on your son.

[cardinal4]

Geez. Does she have a lot of tattoos and talk with a cigarette dangling out of her mouth?

No that would yours, my mother passed two years ago.

[cardinal4]

No that would yours, my mother passed two years ago.

Whoops! I meant that would BE yours..

[olliemb]

Actually Sheila Jackson Lee, representative from Houston, made a plane wait for her while she was running late. At first I thought the story was about her. Surely, reactions would not have been nice to her.

[arasina]

Aaaah shaddup and quit yer apologizin'! :o) I'm always happy to get a PING from you, Carlo, because you appeal to my emotions and my appetite. I emailed your 9/11 post to friends and family members who all loved it. One of my sisters teaches some high school classes near Plainfield, Illinois. She's going to use your wonderfully written piece in her Diversity class. (Yeah, I know...Diversity class...but she says it is actually a good thing...long story.)

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for the ping to this wonderful story!

[Teacher317]

It has been my experience that if one must be unemployed anywhere in the world, this is the country to do it in...

Reminds me of a Sam Kinison missive, something along the lines of:
How do you expect to get by if you can't make it here? America is the land of opportunity! If you're homeless here, you may as well pack it in, because you couldn't make it anywhere.

[StarCMC]

Ping me anytime with this good stuff!

[Libertina]

I got this email too, and it was a great one.

[merry10]

Thank a vet. God bless our troops and their families, from every generation! I did this about a month ago. I was in the mall in Northridge CA and saw a guy with a military cut and an Operation Enduring Freedom shirt. I passed him, did a double take and turned to him and said "Thank you" He said "for what" and then said "Oh you're welcome, my pleasure."

[Brian Allen]

<< GOD BLESS AMERICA!
WELCOME HOME!
AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!! >>

BUMP!

[jellybean]

Hiya Bri...nice to BUMP into you!

[Brian Allen]

Bump/Ping

[Brian Allen]

<< Hiya Bri...nice to BUMP into you! >>

Dittos! -- B A

[carlo3b]

Thanks Brian, it's amazing how quickly we forget about the folks that are protecting us.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Excellent!

[SwinneySwitch]

I think you're pissin' in the wind on this one, Trust. (My sister-in-law sent it to me Friday.) Think of it as a short story that is a whole lot better than the Krap spit out by the left in their propaganda machines.

[#3Fan]

Good story. I was at a rock/dance club last week and there was a serviceman there on leave from Iraq. The DJ announced him and applauded him. He seemed embarrased by the attention but it was pretty cool.

[#3Fan]

The most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. Therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions where ideas do not have to work in order to survive." ~ Thomas Sowell ~

Good quote!