The Jeep - You Wouldn't Understand

So, living with your sisters is great - especially in a crisis. And this winter has seen precious few crisis, but we did have a rather entertaining one a few weeks ago.

I was wearing heels and a skirt. I want that fact to be perfectly clear when reading of the events that follow.

The other information that should be included is that we had a rainstorm the day before, and freezing cold temperatures the night before. Dad had plowed our driveway, and so the driveway was surrounded by four foot high solid ice walls of snow, hard as concrete. The driveway was a sheet of ice as well.

Okay, so Deb leaves for work first, and had backed her Jeep Wrangler Unlimited behind my car and Jenn's car. It was about halfway down the driveway. She got ready to leave at her typical 6:40am, and her car was dead. I went outside and realized that our cars were back to back making it impossible to jump Deb's car with my car. Let's try Jenn's. No problem. Of course, jumping the car didn't work, that would have been WAAAAYYY too easy.

So, we decided to push the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, quintessential off-roading, good in any weather including missile showers in the middle of a war, vehicle off to the side of the driveway so that we could get a car around it. So, Jenn in her nightgown, me in my heels and Deb at the wheel. Push, push, push, slip on ice, push, push, push, slip on ice, push, push, push... take a break. And we'd moved the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited except when a little bit of ice and snow limits you, off-roading, good in any weather except for freezing ice and snow vehicle - about two inches. It took us about one hour to finally move the Jeep Unlimited, etc. far enough over to squeeze one of our "LIMITED" cars around in order to get out of the driveway.

Her car was out of commission for about two days while it recovered from the rivers it forded on the way home that day. Yes, rivers. It basked in the sun and had to dry out the starter motor.

The Jeep Unlimited is a lie.

The Greatest Football Story Ever Told

Congratulations to the New York Giants!

War War, what is it good for?

I woke up this Saturday morning and went to a horse farm with my sister to clean out the stalls. Afterwards, we followed our usual routine at stopping at a small-town cafe (St. George's in Henniker, NH) for two double chai tea lattes. As I waited for our drinks, I glanced over at the bulletin board that was covered with signs for Lab puppies, plowing services, various business cards and the typical mess that bulletin boards boast. I haven't been in this cafe for a while, and the only posting that was not unfamiliar to me was the picture of Russell Durgin. He smiles in this picture, wearing a black tux with a red tie and cumberbun. I think that this is a picture of him at his senior prom.

This picture reminds me of an event that my Mom told me about a few months ago. One of the young men from Henniker was being called to Iraq to serve his country. He was at daily Mass, as was Russell's mom. The community prayed for his safe return, while Russell's mom cried in the back of the church. She sobbed. The young man hugged her and promised that he'd return, a promise that both of them knew might be broken. I am very sad for this man's family, and for Russell's family.

As all these thoughts came flooding to mind, I see the headlines. Two mentally retarded women were strapped with explosives and sent into a busy market in Iraq. Soon after, these explosives were remotely denotated, killing these two innocent women and others in the market. Such cowardice is unspeakable. It is the cowardice that uses babies to protect murderers and terrorists. It is the cowardice that preys upon human decency for personal gain and ambition. It is the cowardice that uses drug money to support those who oppress, abuse and murder the most innocent in society.

As I drive over the Russell M. Durgin Memorial Bridge in Henniker, NH I pray for Russell's soul, and that his family receive comfort for their terrible and tragic loss. I also pray that his sacrifice, the sacrifice of his family and his community is not in vain. I pray that while some will choose to belittle their loss, and the loss to a small New England community, that even they will be safe from the harm that Russell fought against. I pray that the work that our soldiers are doing in Iraq will ensure a safe and secure America for many years to come.

The war in Iraq is not alot of words spoken on the floor of the senate. Its not about political posturing or rhetoric. The war is about small town communities offering their best and bravest young men and women to protect this way of life.

Not everyone is asked to make this sacrifice, only those strong enough to endure it.