I know. You're busy. Work. Family. Activism. The freakin' holidays on top of it all. I know. Trust me.
Maybe something's been nagging at you. That one thing you just gotta do, and it's just slipped your mind what it is.
You're commuting or cooking supper or studying something and it's right there in the back of your head but by the time you've got a moment, it's gone.
I understand. And I don't make judgments.
But right now, it's my job to remind you. Yeah, even to nag you a little.
Because, you gotta do it.
At this point, you're scowling and saying "DO WHAT, KIM?!?!?!"
Patience, Grasshopper. All will be revealed below the fold.
Silvercedes' November 19 diary asked us Kossacks to remember her husband's unit in Iraq with a few necessities, and some stuff just for smiles and fun, sent by way of AnySoldier.com.
I bet you clicked the diary and said "Great idea!"
But, have you followed through?
I did. Somehow my perpetually scrambled brain held on to this, I followed through, and it's done.
Underwear, socks, snacks, toiletries, DVDs. 6 boxes worth. Off to Iraq today.
I don't confuse the warrior with the war. I despise this fucking war in Iraq. But I don't despise the people who got sent to it. They had no choice in that. They signed up to serve. The failure is with Bush. I already had this conversation with this douchebag. I trust most people here understand that supporting a human is not supporting the war.
Think about the Americans over there: in danger, doing difficult work, away from family, away from the "walk/drive 10 minutes to Target" convenience that we take for granted.
I did my goddamnedest to get them a new C-in-C in 2004 and we know how that worked out. They're stuck there. I can take a few dollars, and few minutes out of my day to say, human-to-human, American-to-American, that I empathize, that I care, and that I wish them a happy holiday, and a swift, safe return.
You don't have to send everything in the world. One small package with a card would touch hearts.
Here, I'll help you with the steps of how to do this.
Go to AnySoldier.com and scroll through the list for the November 19 entries. They will be sorted alphabetically once you get to that date.
Silvercedes' husband is Captain Matthew Larson. He's writing for the needs of his unit, which is, I believe 50 people, men and women.
Look at the list of his requests.
Shop for them.
By the way, these soldiers in Iraq see lots of little Iraqi kids. Perhaps you have some beanie babies sitting around?
Many people in this thread offered great suggestions for what constitutes good 'snacks' and gifts. Books, magazines, decks of cards, all kinds of stuff that we take for granted are good little comfort items.
DO NOT send porn, pork, alcohol, cigarettes, bulk non-Islamic religious material.
Go to the USPO and pick up one of two priority mail boxes - if you've got a fairly light shipment, get the regular ones that go by weight. If not, get the FLAT RATE (marked in red) box.
Fill your box.
DO NOT pack toiletries and food together. If you simply must - put them in separate sealed ziplocks.
It has been suggested to mark DVD cases and the DVD themselves with 'anysoldier.com' on them because there have been, sadly, cases of pilfering where the DVDs are getting stolen and then sold to the soldiers. That truly sucks.
ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR BOX AND/OR ENVELOPE, IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER WRITE "DK."
This has been approved as our way of representing Daily Kos, to show that liberals care about our troops too.
If a few days have passed between the time you first got the address, check AnySoldier again for Captain Larson and make sure his address has not changed.
Take it to the USPO and also fill out a Customs form. I understand you have to be fairly specific on this. You can't write 'food' you have to say what it is.
Mail it.
The deadline to send to our Kossack's husband by Priority Mail is December 11. (if his address doesn't change)
If you're short on cash, it's okay just send a card or letter. I'm told that human contact is really the most important gift we can give. Go ahead and send the envelope to Captain Larson, and then write the note to 'Soldier' inside.
So, did you do it?
If not, I hope you will.
This is what my mom and I did "for each other" for Christmas. Doing this has added a measure of joy I didn't think we'd ever feel at the holidays again since my husband's death six years ago, and my father's deadh two years ago.
Do it. Then come back and say you did it.
Joy to the world. ALL the boys and girls.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all.