A few weeks back, my husband sent me an email, asking if I'd ship him a cheap little ukulele. (Mind you, Josh Downs has never played the ukulelee before, but he's funny and random like that.)
So the next day, I picked up a uke, a few uke books, an electronic tuner and a pack of extra strings and headed down to the UPS store to ship it all.
Unfortunately, UPS couldn't insure it for me so instead, I asked them just to box it up (since I didn't have a big enough box at home) and decided I'd mail it through the Post Office. I was worried about the ukulele getting broken during shipping though, so I asked the UPS gal if she'd mind packing the uke in a box and then sticking that box inside of another bigger box for extra protection.
About 20 minutes later, the UPS gal appeared from the back room with a box big enough to ship a cello in and a bill for $35. (Apparently, chelo-sized boxes cost a lot of money.)
So I begrudgingly paid the $35 and schlepped towards the door with the ukulele packed inside a cello-sized box.
One of the UPS workers noticed my struggle and rushed to the door to open it for me. I thanked him and as I headed to my car, he hollered, "Tell your husband that even us small guys in Oregon are rooting for him!" (which made the $35 I had just spent to pack a ukulele in a cello-sized box a little more palatable.)
And then I drove to the Post Office, schlepped my way inside with the cello-sized box and began my wait in line.
After a few minutes of waiting, I heard a woman's voice behind me ask, "Is someone you love overseas?"
I turned to see a sweet, graying woman in her mid-60's looking at the shipping label on my cello-sized box.
I told her that my husband was in Afghanistan and next thing you know, we were sharing the details of our lives.
She asked if we were able to communicate with Josh very often and I explained to her that we were able to talk on the phone, send emails and even Skype occasionally. She mentioned how lucky we were for that kind of technology and shared with me how after her husband had left for Vietnam (just three months after they got married) that she eagerly awaited each and every hand-written letter she received from him, letting her know that he was safe. She went on to share that her husband had recently lost mobility on the right side of his body due to old injuries sustained in Vietnam and that he's unable to play the guitar anymore because his body can't support the weight of it and wondered if maybe she should get him a ukelele too.
Before we had time to finish our coversation though, a clerk waved me over.
So I schlepped up to the counter with my cello-sized box.
Turns out it costs $147 to ship a cello-sized box to Afghanistan.
Truth be told, I was so ready to be done with the whole ordeal that I was willing to pay whatever it took so I could get home and get back to work, but then I envisioned my frugal husband keeling over dead after noticing the $147 shipping label affixed to the cello-sized box and knew I had to come up with another plan.
Apparently, the sweet, graying woman I had been talking with in line overhead our discussion because next thing I knew, she had moved in between me and the clerk like a protective mother-hen, saying "One-hundred and forty-seven dollars, how can that be?!?"
All three of us just stood there looking at each other for a few seconds and then we started discussing options. Eventually, we decided to take the smaller inside box with the ukelele in it, out of the larger, cello-sized box and measured/weighed it.
Turns out it only costs $28 to ship a ukulelee-sized box to Afghanistan.
I told the clerk that I needed to run out to my car really quickly to grab a couple more shipping labels (since the shipping labels I had were already stuck to the cello-sized box that I had paid $35 for and would no longer be using.)
So I ran out to my car, quickly grabbed the labels I needed (I printed up 50 labels awhile back with Josh's address on them so I can send him things whenever I want.) and as I walked back up to the counter, I noticed that the sweet, graying, mother-hen-of-a-woman was scurrying towards the exit.
I was kind of surprised that she didn't stop to say good-bye to me after sharing such a bonding experience so I turned towards the exit, waving my arms and hollering, "Good-bye and thank you and your husband for your service!"
When I turned back to the counter, the clerk said, "Do you know her?"
He looked kind of puzzled when I explained that I had just met her while standing in line and then he said, "Well, in all the years I've worked here, I've never seen anyone do this before, but she just paid to ship that ukelele to your husband."
And that was the first time I ever cried in a post office.
I spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about that sweet, graying, mother-hen-of-a-woman, how thoughtful her gesture was, how godly it was for her to leave the post office without wanting public acknowledgement for her act of kindness, how hard it must have been to be a young, newlywed with a husband serving his country in Vietnam at a time when there was very little gratitude being shown to service men and women and how difficult it must be to watch your husband paying the price for that service with failing health after 40 years of marriage.
It made me wish I could find her and hug her and tell her again how thankful I am for heroes like her and her husband.
And it made me think of how thankful I am for my own husband and all the kindness people have shown me and my kids since he deployed.
And it made me thankful for the technology that allows me to keep in touch with him so I don't have to spend weeks at a time, worried about his safety. (Though I know that isn't the case with all military families.)
It made me thankful that every Sunday, my husband is able to watch the same live church service that we are attending at 10:45 a.m. our time/11:15 p.m. his time. (I always sit in one of the front, center rows in the hope that he'll see me.)
It made me thankful that we get to talk to him on the phone really frequently, even if the connection is usually bad and there's an awkward lag time.
It made me thankful that my kids get to see their dad's face every now and then on Skype.
And that he can share photos via email.
And that when he accidentally shoots himself with a nail gun while working on a project at his base, I can show my kids the x-rays and all the other gory details so they can think their dad is the toughest dad in the whole-wide-world.
It stinks to have have him gone, but I'm thankful all the same.
And I want to pass along my thanks to another military wife in the same way that that sweet, graying, mother-hen-of-a-woman passed along her thanks to me...
So if you are a military wife with a husband that is currently deployed and would like a seat in the next round of my online Photographers' Workshop, please leave a comment in the comments section of this post with a few details about your husband, his deployment and anything else that you'd like to share. (I'll draw a winner by the end of the week.)
I can't thank you enough for your family's service.
(For anyone else who is wanting to take The Photographers' Workshop, registration is tonight at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, here. Would love to have you join us!)
And if you're reading this Josh Downs...you are totally the toughest (and hottest) dad in the whole-wide-world.
Now I am crying.
Karen, your posts always touch me. You are strong and loving and wonderful - and it's all so real in a life's messy kind of way! Hope that's not too gushy or weird considering I have only met you in a class one time!
Posted by: Cathy | October 03, 2011 at 09:47 AM
I love each and every one of your posts! Thanks, Josh Downs, for all you do for our country.
Posted by: SusanC | October 03, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Oh man..I'm sitting here at work CRYING my eyes out...that awesome lady for paying the shipment...LOVE moments like that!!! :) Hopefully someday you & her will meet up again and you can give her a big ol' hug to thank her!
OUCH on Josh Downs' unfortunate nailgun incident... :(
Big Hugs to you Karen! :)
Posted by: Kathy C. | October 03, 2011 at 10:19 AM
OMG, he has really learned from you, capturing everything. OUCH...
Posted by: karen eyink | October 03, 2011 at 10:23 AM
ps. the last photo got me verklempt.
Love the random acts of kindness and Skype
Posted by: karen eyink | October 03, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Oh my gosh! That is just one of the sweetest stories ever! Maybe you will run into her again someday.....maybe at the post office.
Yikes on the thumb/nail pictures. I was eatting my lunch and got a little queasy....had to hurry past that last pic!
Thanks for always sharing your great stories with all of us.
Posted by: Yvonne C | October 03, 2011 at 10:27 AM
We have a group of women in Fairfield, CT. They are called Project from the Heart. They are retired policemen's wives who pack up packages for the military weekly and send them all over the world but mostly Afghanistan. Our church collects money for postage and everyone donates toiletries, hard candy, etc. This past Memorial day, my daughter's third grade class made cards for the troops and the lovely ladies included them in the boxes they were sending out. I hope Josh and his friends get a package from our group of "mother-hens".
God Bless Josh and all of our troops!!!
Posted by: Cindy | October 03, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Karen, this post made me cry.....how awesome to encounter such a kind person! Hope Josh Downs' hand is okay :)
Posted by: Mary | October 03, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Karen, your journey of faith is an amazing one and I am thankful that you share it. God bless you, your family, EVERY military family, and EVERY man and woman that puts their life on the line for our country. Thank you.
Posted by: kelly b | October 03, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Although my husband is not deployed right now, I have been in your shoes. My husband left on a 6 month deployment on a Naval Aircraft Carrier just 6 months after our twin boys were born. Because technology was not what it is now, I too had to wait for handwritten mailed letters to arrive. I sent one off each day to him and had to number them so that when he received a bunch at once he knew what order to read them in. We mailed a VHS tape back and forth with video of our two young boys so that he could watch them grow and change. I still have that VHS tape and I am not even sure it still works but just picking it up and knowing what it holds is enough for me. I admire all men and women who support our troops while standing on US soil. They too have a very difficult job. I would love to put my name in for a spot in your photography workshop.
Katie
Posted by: Katie Hughes | October 03, 2011 at 10:33 AM
First of all, that photo of the nail in Josh Downs' thumb is creeping me out. Next, I can't imagine how much you and your kids are missing him. And thirdly, the mother hen woman is an angel and I'm so glad you ran into her that day. And lastly, you're right, $147 for shipping would have been too much for Josh Downs. A lovely post. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Wendy M. | October 03, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Karen, I just want to say thank you to your family for the sacrifices that you make everyday that Josh is gone. Thank you to Josh for his service to our country. The nail gun incident totally made my thumb hurt!! May God bless your family!!
Posted by: Chris R | October 03, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Ok, so I was crying my eyes out about that sweet story and being thankful for Josh Downs and that sweet lady's husband and all of our service men and women.
Then you threw me a huge curve ball with the nail gun thing. Holy cow!! I love that he took a pic of it to share with you and the kids, but my goodness, OUCH!!!
Thanks for sharing your life, Karen. You're an inspiration. :)
And Josh Downs, be careful with the nail guns (and anything else that could puncture any part of you! Karen and the kids want you home and in one piece!!)
Posted by: Sinead | October 03, 2011 at 10:39 AM
This post made me cry, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Eva | October 03, 2011 at 10:40 AM
EVERY post of yours makes me cry!!!!! I will now keep a tissue box next to my computer since I'm always checking in on you!!! OMG about the nail gun!!!!!! I would have passed out!!!!! How in the heck!!!!!! And what a sweet lady!!!!! omg! so sweet!!!!!!! It's so nice to see that there are still loving caring people in this nasty greedy world we live in!!!!!!
Posted by: Nicole Ellisn | October 03, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Wow! I loved reading this! I am grateful to you, your husband and your kids for your sacrifices. Thank you!!
And I would LOVE to *secretly* nominate my amazing very best friend for a chance to win a seat in your workshop giveaway. Her husband is currently in Afghanistan right now too - on his 6th deployment. They are currently stationed out of Okinawa, Japan. She is a homeschooling mother of 4, a wife to a Marine, a beautiful woman inside and out, and my very dear friend.
I would be so thrilled if she won this!
Posted by: kristen | October 03, 2011 at 10:41 AM
I love that there are still kind people in this world that understand the sacrifice military families make. My husband serves in the US Navy and is currently deployed with the USS Stennis. This is our first deployment and to say it gets easier as the time goes on is so not true. I am a stay at home mom with 2 little girls and it hurts that he is missing out on so much of there lives. He will miss so many firsts with our daughter who was 6 months when he left. My husband is such a wonderful man and I am so thankful for his love first to God and then for our family! I can't imagine going through this life without him by my side. Even though this hard we have a faithful God who will be with us until the day we are reunited again as a family! Thank you for your families sacrifice!
If you are interested here is a post from my blog about my wonderful husband right before he delpoyed
http://bkwalker.blogspot.com/2011/06/as-time-draws-near.html
Posted by: Brenda Walker | October 03, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Now I'm all teary at work from reading this. My brother's best friend is currently deployed and my best friend's sister leaves November 15th. Both to Afghanistan. Both were in Iraq a few years back.
You should send this blog post to your local paper so they can run it in honor of the nice post office lady.
Thanks to Josh for his service and bravery (especially around nail guns.)
Posted by: Christi | October 03, 2011 at 10:54 AM
ouch !!
Posted by: laura stewart | October 03, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Oh my gosh! I'm crying too. I wish I could give that nice little lady a huge hug right now and one for you too!! My hubby is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He is a CH47 helicopter pilot (the one with the two top rotors). We started out the deployment talking on Skype everyday but since August when he had to move to a remote FOB and now I'm lucky to get an email once a week (which I'm still entirely thankful for!). Overall I try not to think about what he does up there everyday, I know it's an important job but sometimes the reality is just too much for me to handle AND keep it together for our 3 girlies. Just before he left he bought me a canon 50D to take pictures everyday to send him. I would love the chance to win a seat in your class! (((HUGS)))
Posted by: Denise Medeiros | October 03, 2011 at 10:57 AM
I am so thankful for the service men and women of this country as well, and I'm also thankful for the technology we have these days so that you can share this story with so many people. So touching! Thank you for that.
Posted by: donya | October 03, 2011 at 11:07 AM
What a wonderful experience. May you cherish the feelings you experienced with this kind woman when you are having difficult days. Love that you are paying it forward! Thank you to you and Josh Downs for the sacrifices you both are making.
Posted by: Terry Gardiner | October 03, 2011 at 11:12 AM
HI Karen, I love reading your blog, my best friend is deploying to Afghanistan in November, I cannot imagine what it is like to have your husband there. I live in the UK and for us we are able to send packages and letters under a certain weight free to all military personnel serving on active duty. We recently made lots of cards with a scrapbooking group at Creative Escape - hope that Josh is one of the troops that gets them! Thinking about you and your family.
Posted by: Charlie | October 03, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Love this post, made me cry!:) And ouch Josh Downs, that made me cringe! Thank you for your service!:)
Posted by: Addie | October 03, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Seriously I just started crying while reading this. Reminded me in the beauty of humanity. Oh yea- and Josh Downs' calves even look hot in Afghanistan! :) (even if his hand doesn't).
Beckywedd :)
Posted by: Becky watt | October 03, 2011 at 11:44 AM