observe

Earlier this month, I caught a bit of MAD TV (I know a couple folks on the show and catch it now and then) and they did a fantastic sketch that hit upon how Americans take any and every holiday and turn it into a chance to get drunk and get laid.  Or at the very least, eat like it's their last day on earth. Cinco de Mayo was the holiday du jour, but really, it applies to so many that the satire could not be more on point. Or, if it's not about getting drunk and/or horny, it's about saving 40-60% off towels/bedding/appliances/cars/clothes...and on into infinity.

Truly, this bit of comedy it did what most of television doesn't.  It made me really think about my own actions.

I have my nephew visiting this weekend.  It's been months since I've seen him, so I'm really looking forward to hanging out, watching movies, playing boardgames and the like.  Usually when he visits, I schedule some sort of chore related activity (washing the car, running errands, toting stuff down to storage) that we do together and then the movie or activity is the reward. 

This kid is like any other kid these days. He has his nose so far into his Gamboy/X-Box/Whajamacallit that I occassionally worry for future generations.  The only thing that keeps me from the brink of hysteria is that he loves to read.  To me, instilling a love for reading is the one of the finest gifts you can give a child.  Still, between his nose in the latest Harry Potter/Eragon/Whathaveyou and detaching him from his console - to get an 11 year old to stop and look at the world is a Herculean task.

So, I became that aunt.  The one that takes you to museums and plays and weird street festivals.  The one that takes you to some odd-smelling restaurant to try Indian food for the first time. Plans outings to Chinatown and signs you up for workshops and pottery class.  My attempts at showing him art and history and culture is a single purpose to widen his scope of the world.  And of course, every once in a while I buy him underwear.  Because that's what crazy aunts do.

One of my goals is to instill a small pebble in his shoe regarding volunteerism.  The idea is that part of your life should be spent attempting to make the world a slightly improved place for someone other than yourself.  My theory being that if you improve someone elses state of being, your own existence is improved. It's a completely selfish view of samaritianism, but it works for me.

This weekend, I'm taking him shopping.  He'll help pick out items for some care packages to be sent to soldiers overseas. While I don't support the war, I can't image being 19 and being in Iraq.  The complexity of that existance, and in all honestly, after 3400+ American deaths, the idea that and IED could be out there with your name on it...I feel for those kids.  A lot of them were just trying to get an education, or get a leg up on a better life - some believe in "the mission"...that ever changing plan to bring stability to the region.  Whatever reason got them there, they are in it. Smack dab in the middle of the shit.

I'm against the war.  I want them out of there yesterday.  But, until our Congress grows a fucking pair, the least I can do is send them some tolietries and snacks and comic books.  Most important,  a letter saying, "Thank you for your service.  Please come home safe." More than anything, that's what they want.  Mail.  A letter from a stranger is better than no letter at all. In fact, it's everything.

If any of this is ringing a bell for you, www.Anysoldier.com is a great website to check out. 

However you decide to commemorate this Memorial Day, raise your corn cob or your bratwurst or your grilled portobello high...and think about if there's some way you might make the world a little better.  I mean, it couldn't hurt to at least consider it.