The media has been covering a few stories lately that has put individuals in our armed forces in a bad light. In every large organization there are bad elements. These are humans. I by no means condone the actions I have been reading about. Just want people to remember the United States Armed Forces is a very large group of people. These stories are just a tiny number in the scale of brave people who serve. I know this because I served & spend a lot of time with people that currently do. I have found a few meat-heads on occasion. Much like the “real” world. But for the very most part they are thoughtful, caring & brave people who stand for something. They stand next to each other when called upon. Now the people that make the called upon decision… Not a fan!
I open my email inbox and this happened…
Subject: Hey From (MAJ)
PJ,
Hey, you may not remember me but you performed an amazing show at Dogwood Iraq in 2005. Yep, I know it’s been very long time. Since then I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and now, I’m back in Afgahnistan for another deployment.
Hope all is going well with you. I have this saying, “You meet people in life for a reason” in most cases it’s just to meet…. but you never forget them. You’re a person I will never forget.
Best wishes,
Somehow whenever my mind strays off into the “what I haven’t done, what I don’t have“ … all that just useless way of thinking. The universe sets me straight with how blessed I am. What an amazing life I live. “You meet people in life for a reason” goes both ways. Thank you Major! I also will never forget. I will also never forget this represents who serves our country. Great individuals like the major. I’m not an “armchair quarterback” with opinions achieved by reading & watching the news. I have been there. In the media they say “if it bleeds it leads”. The truth is not as selling. Good people willing to risk their lives for us. Sad that is not a top story daily.
I saw Whitney Houston in concert when I was either a sophomore or junior in High School. We are talking Whitney at the very top of her game! ““The Bodyguard” in its entirety whenever the chance arises? For years I have told the story how I saw Whitney Houston in concert in high school & I fell asleep. Which I completely did. I was out cold after she sang the 3 hits I knew. From then on it was all gospel songs and well… Zzzzzzzz’s. BUT THOSE 3 HITS!
Looking back… I’m completely aware that I was an unappreciative teenage idiot with a mullet. Funny thing is as time passed I never in my mind registered Whitney Houston as anything but that Whitney who sang those 3 hits. The tabloids never influenced me; the “Bobby Brown years” as I guess they can be called never tarnished the image she left in my mind singing those 3 hits. In a way I feel I again slept through the stuff I didn’t like.
The more artists I encounter. Have friendships with & the longer I perform myself. It becomes so savagely clear what a painfully heart-wrenching business this can be. I could not even comprehend for a moment what it would be like as an industry- changing young African –American woman placed in the spotlight of the world’s stage at such a young age. So for me Whitney Houston is that amazing singer acting opposite Kevin Costner’s horrible haircut in the classic “The Bodyguard”. She’s that amazing talent I got to witness belt out 3 incredible hits. Everything else… Zzzzzzzz’s
Another instrument that contributed to so many individuals life soundtrack faded away this weekend. When I got the news Clarence Clemons passed I was at a Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Hollywood. I was going down the escalator and I felt such a sadness. For me Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have been more then just a group. They have been some of my most valued experiences. The relationship between Bruce & The Big Man influenced my eyes & my heart to live a life that looks at humanity colorless. I have many African- American friends. Male & female. I have many Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Latino, Asian, Republican, Democrat, Gay and so on. I have one piece of “Art” I had ever purchased. It is one of those “authentic” pictures that come with a letter & stamp of some sorts. I paid a bunch for it. Not because it was “authentic” but because it was Bruce & Clarence together on stage at that amazing moment in “
