Thank A Soldier

the gratitude campaign (short)

The below was emailed to me:
From KING 5 News:

----- Original Message -----
From: *@*
To: nomdeplumethepoetress@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: king5.com article from *

* [*@*] has sent you a story from king5.com.
(Page at: http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092307WAB_gratitude_campaign_SW.102c1d0ba.html)

Seattle man starts 'Gratitude Campaign' to thank soldiers
05:51 PM PDT on Sunday, September 23, 2007

By DEBORAH FELDMAN / KING 5 News

[SEATTLE - What began as a simple idea to say thank you to soldiers he passed on the street, has blossomed into a full scale campaign for Seattlite Scott Truitt.

He says many Americans want to express their gratitude to members of our military, but most aren't really sure how to proceed.

"I think there's a lot of politics wrapped around the military and that can get confusing for a lot of people," he said.

Both Truitt's father and father-in-law spent decades in the military, but even so, he realizes approaching strangers can be a little awkward at times.

"For several years I've been walking up and saying thank you to them when I've see them and sometimes its a really comfortable situation, and sometimes its not so comfortable," he said.

So he decided it would be nice to simply have a gesture to say thank you quickly and comfortably.

"The sign language sign for thank you starts at the chin and we thought geez, if you don't know what this means, you might not take it kindly. And that's certainly not the message we wanted to send," he said.

After a little research, he came up with a new idea.

"The gesture starts with your hand on your heart as if you're about to do the Pledge of Allegiance. And then you just bring the hand down and out in front of you. It actually means thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Truitt hopes his Gratitude Campaign will spread across the country, and says even if soldiers don't know exactly what the gesture means, they'll realize if it originates on the heart, its got to be good.

Truitt hopes his video will continue to be shown at the start of every home Seahawks game this season.]

The Gratitude Campaign

Do You Know the Sign?


I'd like to also add a BIG Thank You to all Military Men and Women!

Related Posts:
Veterans Day
Influential Women In The Military
The Flower of Remembrance

Shell of a Cold Murder

Currently, my only pet resides in a simple basic starter aquarium. This has afforded me the luxury of conserving precious global energy while saving on my electric bill by turning off all household lights and the a/c heater unit before going to work daily. Noting, having any other pets one should never turn the ac heater unit completely off; instead set the unit thermostat at a low comfortable setting for the preservation of the pets essentially crucial wellbeing.

Recently I adopted a snail to keep my single beta fish company and help clean his vicinity. The name of my fish is Art. An ongoing joke between us and my Friends who are humored by the fact that all I need to do is say, ‘Art, where art thou’ and the fish will indeed come to the front of the aquarium. Then if I proceed to say ‘Art Arty Art-Art’, my fish will happily perform a flip flapping aquatic dance. Anyone who knows me or has followed some of my writings, will admit that I have an unusual close pet relationship with any of my aqua Friends. In-fact, I confessed in my 7 Weird or Random Facts Meme that “I once tried to save my pet aquatic frog by giving him CPR via administrating him air from a tube attached to the aquarium pump. Sadly he could not be resuscitated.”

I first became aware of my odd attachment when my ‘once upon a time’ pet cat, Sir Socrates brought me his most prized catch. That day, I thought nothing of having heard some minor clattering in the other room. At least not until later when I looked down at Sir Socrates. There he had rolled in from two other rooms and proudly laid at my feet, my pet fish! Needless to say, I was devastated and unable to revive the poor little finner. Sir Socrates on the other hand, well he lived to old age. And he was not punished for his natural instincts, instead I merely built a better aquarium lid.

Many a fish, frog, snail, and aquariums have come into my life since than and gone. The most fun is picking a name. My Mother is often kind to remind me of the time I brought two tree frogs inside for the night. Something I sometimes did for harmless entertainment. I would place tree frogs in a aired waterless goldfish bowl, add food, decorate with tree limbs and leaves. Observe their behavior and listen to their ribbits, then set them free the next morning, outdoors in a natural wooded arena. The two my Mom remembers most is Mr. Limpet (from the 1964 movie The Incredible Mr. Limpet starring Don Knotts) and Mrs. Tax a Daisy (because it was tax time). Par to tradition, now was the time to name my new snail.

So happen the night prior I had a dream, an unusual event for myself as a persistent lack of R.E.M. sleep remains a semi-medical mystery to my physicians. My rare dream began with brown and black horses lined in front of a smooth wired fence. Next, someone was parking my car beside these horses. I was briefly upset that anyone would be driving my car when suddenly the driver side door opened to reveal the now hopping out driver to be a brown Dachshund Weiner dog. Perhaps a pun on the Datsun Nissan auto, however; my car is an Oldsmobile. Nonetheless, in my dream I was to proceed with a delivery of herbs to a Lady whom lived in a nearby village. Legend had it, that there existed an elephant with feet of a three-toed sleuth and whom ever saw this elephant would go crazy. No, not a three toed sloth, definitely sleuth. So happened this Lady not only saw the elephant, she became its’ primary caregiver. However; to stop her insanity, she had to take a daily supply of certain herbs that a local root doctor concocted. My dream basically ended there. Needless to say; when I got my snail, I appropriately named it Sleuth.

Sleuth wasted no time inspecting the new surroundings and vacuuming. A week later in normal environmental conservation fashion, I turned off the ac heater unit. The temperature outside was below 20, so as an additional precautionary measure, I wrapped a towel around the small aquarium and left for work. When I arrived home to unwrap the towel, I found Art cuddled atop of Sleuth. Motherly thinking, how sweet they are keeping each other warm. Then guiltily wondering if the temperature inside my residence had become to cold for them. And just as quickly, panicked that perhaps they weren’t cuddling nor freezing. What if Sleuth accidently clamped down on one of Arts’ fins and the fish was trapped! Instantaneously, I reached my arm into the icy water and with my hand brushed the two apart. Fortunately, Art wasn’t ensnared. Unfortunately, Sleuth may have passed away by means of a cold murder. However; I’m still investigating as snails do have the tendency to hibernate inwardly for awhile. So for now, I have Sleuth in a temperature controlled liquid bowl, awaiting hopefully a resurrection. If not, I may in any case be thankful that in addition to escargot, I could have also had a frozen fish stick. Not that I would literally eat either one, just admittedly the guilt is starting to eat away at me.

Environmental lesson learned: to help save the planet, perhaps start with one aquatic pet at a time, assuring first and foremost that at least a heater is installed in even the smallest of fish bowls.

Also posted at Blue Ribbon Bloggers

Christmas Camel Carving

Every year a spectacular magic fills the air. It starts about October with carving the Pumpkin. Then in November, the Turkey. Than by December a piece of our heart has already begun to be carved out and gifted to others as kind deeds increase and shine more predominately. Any indifferences with Family and Friends are all but forgotten. Smiles are given to Strangers we chance to see here and there. Suddenly we don’t mind the heavy traffic, circling parking lots for a space, or standing in long lines. We can even climb the highest tree to place an ornament atop. Wobbly ladders press against homes with legs in the snow or on thin ice - we clamber the rungs to dangle lights while our lives hang in the balance. Throw caution to the wind and step onto the decorated tile nailed roofs. We are invincible! And so it was for my Sister. Having never used a jigsaw before except to assemble a picture, she takes the awkward tool in hand and with nothing more than the power of sheer determination – she begins! My two young Nephews, perhaps for fear of life and limbs - pretend to busy themselves else where with what ever it is young Teenagers do. Then when all is saw and done, they gather near their Mom. Mentally I’m sure they were counting digits and when they reached 10, noting all her fingers and toes intact – they delight in the joy of Camels amid the still dusty mist! And so in the Spirit of this magical Season; I share the lawn awaited results!

The Blog Fairy Is Now The Queen of Angels

(In Loving Memory Of Francesca Faerie a tribute from Gracie Belle - Her Beloved Daughter...)

Blue Ribbon Bloggers “In loving memory of our beloved Blog Fairy the 1st, Francesca” A place for all who love The Blog Fairy.

“There will be memorials here and remembrances. We welcome and encourage all of you who would like to contribute your remembrance, memorials, or thoughts about this wonderfully loving Lady, "The Blog Fairy" to post at the Blue Ribbon Bloggers.


This is a sad time throughout the blogosphere and World, as all fairy wand plants and flowers bow their heads to weep with us. For the news has been made official, The Blog Fairy of the legendary “Blue Ribbon Blogger Award”, has gone on. We may call this death and wrestle with the repercussions that tug mournfully at our hearts. The Blog Fairy however; would probably refer to this as merely trading in her glistening Fairy Wings for a larger pair that represents the true Angel she is and was to everyone. Perhaps The Blog Fairy knew these Angel Wings awaited her, as on her MyBlogLog profile she posted a quote "The Land of Heart's Desire" by William Butler Yeats; "Faeries, come take me out of this dull world..." Ultimately, The Blog Fairy has “rode upon the wind, ran a top the disheveled tide, and danced upon the mountains like a flame”. And as we honor The Blog Fairy, let us surround her Family and Friends at this time with Universal Hugs. Especially “Gracie Belle, beloved daughter of Francesca and grandaughter of The Earth Fairy”, whom now carries on The Blog Fairy tradition of “sharing love and enlightenment to those who believe”. Please join in the embracement of Gracie Belle, the Blog Fairy II at MyBlogLog. We would also like to thank Zubli Zainordin, whom shares in this journey with Gracie Belle to continue, “Francesca, The Blog Fairy's mission of love”.

In honor, love, and great respect for The Blog Fairy, Zubli Zainordin wrote this poem, that with his permission I am proud to share with all:

“In Memory of My Love of Francesca Faerie”

Who is the man;
among all men.
Who on earth walks;
nearing 50 still love he could not freely talk;
And what love feeling as a whole or even in the beauty of a rose - contained in its bud, blooms, or its stalk.
The searching and researching
has been a tinkle almost endless;
The more eager the pursuit the less is the gain nevertheless.
A total change a turning point;
after her touch…wholesome love I know, I feel, and I experience enabling all breaks I can now easily joint.
That is after she came into my MyBlogLog a garden;
She gracefully subtle moving into my life without any sign to be of a sudden;
Three times does she privately say;
She embraces me warmly in her loving me so that I no longer go astray;
As I open more my mind and my heart in her I do progressively trust;
She then gives me the giving of all the gifts like to her this is a must.
How short was the moment we spend enjoying love as love really and actually is;
the flow is surely one of an ease.
As my eyes on her and then moving to view the huwmen in total;
Her last will I did not understand the one that is placed at this social networking portal;
I only taste the meaning after she already pass no longer at my side;
Her pain inside I did not see while I was enjoying her shinning light outside.
The Code, The Love Message, The will she placed in my responsibility;
I am now love, sharing this with you to the ultimate joy of my ability.
She may no longer seen beside me visibility is somewhat shut;
Yet in the realm of invisibility she shall continuously be seen, as a purity of light in my memory a castle not a hut.
And a vibration within my heart continues to sound beautiful;
As I carry on her mission sharing all her loving with you to the full.

August 24, 2007 1:08 AM

sharing her ~~~ Kasih Dan Sayang! ~~~ just for you…

Zubli Zainordin (She Walks In Beauty A Welcoming Of Gracie Belle The Blog Fairy II)

In honor of all the lives The Blog Fairy has touched and as a gift to Gracie Belle The Blog Fairy II, I would like to form a “Blue Ribbon” link to all posts People wrote about the wonderful caring Blog Fairy and her legendary “Blue Ribbon Blogger Award”. Please if you are not on this list and have a post, please contact me, ndpthepoetress so I can add your link. Thank you. To begin, below is a small yet far from complete list, as I will continue to add links throughout the day, etc.:

Blue Ribbon Bloggers

A Nice Place In The Sun
A Writer's Edge
A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye
Binding Ink
bobbarama
Christy's Coffee Break
Climate of our Future
Coffee2go
Life With Heathens
Lynda's Loft
Marzie
Mimi Writes.....
My View of "It"
Santa Claus
The Impatient Blogger
The Kat House
The Painted Veil
Twist & Skewer
Zubli Zainordin

*From Sprite ..."may her angel wings still carry the faint jingle and sunlit glint of the forest dwellers -- albeit larger and much more beautiful!"

This Tribute to Francesca Faerie, The Blog Fairy and her legendary Blue Ribbon Blogger Award is Now Proudly Displayed:

Praises To Blog Fairy The 1st

Additional links to this Tribute are always Welcomed

Have a link? Add your link!


Related Posts: Who Is The Blog Fairy?!