Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Life's too Short

Life is really too short to let anything hold you back from doing something crazy. Money is a poor excuse for not doing something you really want to do. And time is an even worse excuse for not doing something you love.

I know that life gets crazy and we seem to get so busy. But the more I think about it the more I realized that I volunteered my open time to drive her is because if no one could come get me so I could come home for the holidays, I would appreciate someone helping me out. Everyone deserves to spend time with their family for the holidays. Now, I understand there are soldiers that are deployed and unable to come home. Their are duties that must be done that don't stop because of Christmas. But the amount of holidays that a child gets to spend with their parents are already too limited the way it is. Every opportunity should be taken advantage of when possible. 

I truly don't know what I would do without my parents. 

Earlier this week, I got the opportunity to cut the National Guard Birthday cake to represent the young soldiers that make up the guard. I was the youngest Nebraska National Guard member present at the celebration on Tuesday morning at the capital building. 

While I was sitting in the chair waiting for the ceremony to start, the Chaplin was sitting next to me, occasionally changing his view and looking around the state capital building. I looked over at him as he leaned over and pointed out the marble pillars and huge concrete blocks that made up the hall that we were in. He pointed out that the building was truly a product of its time. That it was. It was built in the 30s, where everything was made from stone, marble, and other various expensive building materials. It was beautiful. 

Later. Someone mentioned how much hope they had for the young generation of military. Which is definitely not heard all too often. My generation is weird. We are somewhat lazy. And fewer and fewer work hard for what they want. 

But the speakers at the ceremony pointed out how awesome it was that so many soldiers enlist at 17. 

I got to cut the birthday cake with the oldest air guard and army guardsmen present as well as the youngest air guard soldier, who was 18.

After the ceremony, I got to talk to Dave Heineman and Major General Bohac. Two of the commanders for the Nebraska National Guard. 

What an amazing experience! I can honestly say that these two men have worked their ass off in order to get to where they want to be. What great role models for military personal. Heineman talked about his experience as a veteran and Major General talked about everything that the military has given to him. 

I guess what I am trying to get at was to take some time this holiday season to thank a veteran. If you have the money, find an organization that is sending care packages to the deployed soldiers for the holidays. 

They do a lot more than we really give them credit for.

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