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Divine intervention or squirrel mischief?
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By JEAN RODGERS
In anticipation of this past Memorial Day, many Americans were busy shopping the
ads for backyard grills, pools and discounted summer gear. But a young neighbor of
mine whose son is serving with the military in Afghanistan was busy doing something
far more meaningful. She was excitedly spreading the news that her son was coming
home in a few days.
I first heard this good news, when she came by to replace the yellow ribbon that, just a
few days before, we discovered mysteriously “missing without a trace” from the tree in
front of our house. She had tied it on when her son left for the military. Although every
tree on our block also displayed the yellow ribbon, ours was the only one lost. At first I
fingered the culprit as one of the busy squirrels that regularly scamper up and down
our tree, but later I thought of another answer. (Which I’ll explain further on.)
Her face, flushed with joy, this mother beamed a smile bright enough to light up all of
Broadview. As for me, the news left me teary eyed as my heart skipped a beat. It was
hard to imagine that this returning soldier was not too long ago a youngster playing
street hockey along with my grandson. Quite a leap from hockey to harms way.
I recalled how generous he was with time and patience when he’d invite my
grandson, who was younger in years and skills, to leave his spectator seat on the
curb and come join the “big boys” in his favorite sport. Indeed, the memory also
triggered a sense of foreboding. Is it possible that within a few short years into the
future, I would be the one tying ribbons to trees for my grandson. It was not a thought I
care to entertain, much like so many other parents and grandparents who aspire to
much higher dreams for their children.
Oddly, for some time prior to this wonderful Memorial Day news, I had been noting a
decrease in media coverage of the crisis in the Middle East even though there’s a
growing increase in the turmoil. Why would the media not find merit in reporting on
this prolonged problem which is killing and wounding our youngest and brightest.
What message does this void deliver to the troops and their families? Worse yet what
message does this media neglect deliver to other countries we hope to engage in
building a coalition based on self interest for the war on terrorists.
In the meantime, however, with or without media reminders of the sacrifices our
military youngsters are making, we here at home would do well to reach out to them
with letters, care packages and emails (when possible). We can also seek
information about how to make cash donations to agencies that render financial help
to the families of service people who are in need.
My grandson had taken it upon himself to write to his hockey mentor when he was
away in the military. This idea could be incorporated into school writing/language
subjects with mutual benefit to writer and recipient.
As I glanced down the block at all the trees displaying yellow ribbons like sentinels of
hope, including the replacement one at our corner house, I again pondered the
disappearance of the original one.
Odd how it went missing just a few days before news of the soldier’s return. Was it
squirrel mischief – or intervention by divine prophesy predicting the ribbon had served
its purpose.
In anticipation of this past Memorial Day, many Americans were busy shopping the
ads for backyard grills, pools and discounted summer gear. But a young neighbor of
mine whose son is serving with the military in Afghanistan was busy doing something
far more meaningful. She was excitedly spreading the news that her son was coming
home in a few days.
I first heard this good news, when she came by to replace the yellow ribbon that, just a
few days before, we discovered mysteriously “missing without a trace” from the tree in
front of our house. She had tied it on when her son left for the military. Although every
tree on our block also displayed the yellow ribbon, ours was the only one lost. At first I
fingered the culprit as one of the busy squirrels that regularly scamper up and down
our tree, but later I thought of another answer. (Which I’ll explain further on.)
Her face, flushed with joy, this mother beamed a smile bright enough to light up all of
Broadview. As for me, the news left me teary eyed as my heart skipped a beat. It was
hard to imagine that this returning soldier was not too long ago a youngster playing
street hockey along with my grandson. Quite a leap from hockey to harms way.
I recalled how generous he was with time and patience when he’d invite my
grandson, who was younger in years and skills, to leave his spectator seat on the
curb and come join the “big boys” in his favorite sport. Indeed, the memory also
triggered a sense of foreboding. Is it possible that within a few short years into the
future, I would be the one tying ribbons to trees for my grandson. It was not a thought I
care to entertain, much like so many other parents and grandparents who aspire to
much higher dreams for their children.
Oddly, for some time prior to this wonderful Memorial Day news, I had been noting a
decrease in media coverage of the crisis in the Middle East even though there’s a
growing increase in the turmoil. Why would the media not find merit in reporting on
this prolonged problem which is killing and wounding our youngest and brightest.
What message does this void deliver to the troops and their families? Worse yet what
message does this media neglect deliver to other countries we hope to engage in
building a coalition based on self interest for the war on terrorists.
In the meantime, however, with or without media reminders of the sacrifices our
military youngsters are making, we here at home would do well to reach out to them
with letters, care packages and emails (when possible). We can also seek
information about how to make cash donations to agencies that render financial help
to the families of service people who are in need.
My grandson had taken it upon himself to write to his hockey mentor when he was
away in the military. This idea could be incorporated into school writing/language
subjects with mutual benefit to writer and recipient.
As I glanced down the block at all the trees displaying yellow ribbons like sentinels of
hope, including the replacement one at our corner house, I again pondered the
disappearance of the original one.
Odd how it went missing just a few days before news of the soldier’s return. Was it
squirrel mischief – or intervention by divine prophesy predicting the ribbon had served
its purpose.
