Author: kyle

(originally posted at kos)

As a child, I used to sneak into the living room after dark and stare at the Christmas tree.  I’d watch the lights blink shades of red and blue upon the wall while listening to the slow crinkle of the angel up above.  Her wings moved so beautifully and methodically atop the tree.  From top to bottom, the decorated pine would sparkle in the darkness of the living room.  Even the paper of the wrapped presents underneath seemed to glimmer, their inherent mysteries unknown, adding to the magic of the evening.  I could watch for hours, there alone, in the dark… experiencing Christmas.

Now, my experience is different.  I’ve matured, I suppose, and Christmas has become more about sharing time with family and friends rather than mysteries and magic under the Christmas tree.  Nowadays I ask for the new packages of Hanes t-shirts, the ones I used to hate to get, but now I’m happy when I do.   Remembering that clothing gifts used to constitute a waste of wrapping paper for me is only one indicator of how Christmas has changed as I’ve gotten older.  The older I get, the more it becomes about family.

That’s what makes their absence, and its implicit emptiness, felt more acutely around the holidays.

This year, I know two people who will be away, one family, one friend.  My family member is Jimmy, husband to my younger sister and exceptional father to both my nephews.  My friend is Justin, a boy who worked for my father’s antique mart in rural North Carolina during high school.  He sought me out after enlisting in the Army as an ally to his self-discovery.  We’ve continued to keep in touch via email.  Knowing they’re at war, I can’t help but put myself in their place and ask how it feels.  Are they okay?  Do the holidays make it harder for them too?  How are they handling it?  How do they cope?  What is it like for them, in the desert, exploring and defending a foreign world, away from their families on Christmas?

As sullen as my mood can turn when considering those questions, it was nice when, unexpectedly, I received an email from Justin that not only gave me some of those answers but subsequently puts a smile on my face too. He sent me some pictures, from Iraq, and it was a welcome surprise… it was sort of an unexpected present.

This is what the boys of HVAC came up with for their Christmas tree in Iraq.  It’s the sawed-off top of a palm tree stuck in the condenser side of a –39 ECU airconditioning unit, complete with colored light bulbs roughly strewn across the front and an angel atop made from an empty propane tank.  When life gives you lemons, I guess you make lemonade.  Or, to steer from cliché, when life gives you desert palms and broken down air-conditioning units, you make Christmas trees.

(He even sent a 30 second video of it blinking.  Listen to the planes overhead…)

We may not have the pleasure of having all our friends and family around us for the holidays, but as we all gather around our respective symbols of what this time means to us, we come together in our hopes, thoughts, and prayers that our soldiers, our friends, and our family members at war remain safe.  

For me, it’s Jimmy and Justin who will be missing around my Christmas tree this year.  I’d like you to keep them in your prayers.  If you happen upon this diary and feel so inclined, leave the names below of the ones you know who are serving in Iraq this Christmas.  I’ll be praying for yours too.

Still, for all that’s sad about them not being here, there is happiness in these pictures.  In the face of the utter unknown, their spirit remains high.  They’re taking what they’ve been given and are making the best of it… and even sharing it amongst themselves and giving it to others.  If that’s not the spirit of the holidays, then what is?

We’re all united in our love and support of the members of our military, regardless of religion or politics.  Let’s continue the good work we’re doing to get them back safely and swiftly.  We’ve done them good so far.  Let’s continue to get better.

I wish you all the best this holiday season but especially…

Merry Christmas, from HVAC.

delayed post, cross-diaried at kos w/ links

I flew back from Washington tonight.  Twenty five dollars caught me an earlier flight and a better seat.  It was the Setting Sun’s performance of Light Against Cloud in the Sunday Evening Sky… told to the brilliantly orchestrated music of Sigur Ros on the iPod.  I had a front row balcony seat, the best in the house, and while I allowed myself to be humbled, yet again, by the light show I’d seen a million times (but find myself never being able to predict), I began to drift beyond my place in the sky.  I began to reflect upon my weekend.
Just one day earlier, I was a part of history.  On September 24th, 2005, I participated in the March on Washington.  A march protesting my country’s occupation of another, a march against a president I despise, and a march to unite me with friends, both known and unknown, exercising our right to assemble and speak freely for what we believe.  Having brought two friends with me, meeting four more, and helping coordinate other’s from around the country (others who my only familiarity were dailykos.com screennames such as RenaRF, PastorDan, Damnit Janet, Maryscott, etc), we came seeking unity under this common missive.  We came to stand among fellow members of this great Nation under God, indivisible, seeking liberty and justice for all.

Whereas the call to action was protesting the war, everyone was there for their own little something.  If pet issues were suns and their supporters were planets orbiting around them, then DC was a DarkSyde Science Friday diary put in motion.  The pro-Palestinian-state boys walked alongside the “9/11 was planned” conspiracy theorists.  The “Fuck the Pig State” sign holders walked alongside the “Grandmas for Democracy.”  Cops on horses stood watching and became the backdrop to bandana-clad-teenage-goof-offs spelling out incomprehensible words with their body parts.  It was a peaceful hodge-podge of cause and character… America personified.

It was also America at its best.  The beauty of that place was being together and being welcomed, regardless.  Stars and planets might make up their own solar systems but viewed from afar they’re all a part of the same galaxy.  Those galaxies, when viewed from even farther, are all a part of the same universe.  This is who we are, democrats.  This was who we were on Saturday.  We marched together, you holding your sign and me sporting mine, and even though Grannies don’t say the f-word they still lent their hands in solidarity to whoever walked beside them.  

I stood there too.  I was the boy in the pink t-shirt that read “not gay as in happy, but queer as in fuck you.”  I could have easily been accused of having mistook the rally for DC’s pride march, or been accused of touting my own “pet” issue, but I was welcomed outright.  Old ladies stopped me to take pictures of “the best shirt I’ve seen all day” while straight boys smirked and nodded in acceptance as they stared at my chest.  The cause was greater than my t-shirt, your sign, or whoever’s pet issue.  Everyone got that.

The overall mission of this assembly was to unite for peace and justice while demonstrating an anger and disapproval for the self-centered, Republican government that is getting it wrong on almost every issue.  To the half million participants of this march I say “mission accomplished.”  You worked your magic while I worked mine and we all circled around, and toward, a natural force that binds all democrats: a compassion for our fellow man.  This force is palpable.  And has gravity.  It brought us together for one of the most successful marches this century has seen.

So let our demonstration be an example to those not only on dailykos, but to those in the greater party of Democrats and beyond.  Fight for your cause and hold the issue most dear to you high up so that others can see.  We can co-exist without negativity, divisive language, or tearing down.  If one of the strengths of the Republican party is their ability to create a message and amplify the fuck out of it, despite its lack of inherent truth, than the beauty of the Democratic Party is that we’re a wide range of people bringing compassion to a wider collection of issues and we heed the call when given.  When’s the last time half a million Republicans collected on the steps of the White House, or anywhere, to fight anything?

So Democrats, Kossacks, whoever… let’s take this march as an example of what is right about us.  I will start by making a commitment to those who read this diary: I support you and stand next to you in this party.  Kos, Armando, Susanhu, every dailykos reader… join me.  I may not agree with you at all times but I’ll extend my hand to you as we walk toward the common mission of taking back our government.  I will not attack your issue, your stereotype, or your worldview.  Say what you want… hold whatever sign you want… just join me in walking toward the White House as we unite for peace, justice, and the common good.  By taking my hand, we’ll be singing “mission accomplished” way beyond this weekend.  We’re getting there, together.  Look outside your window but stop staring at the sun.  You’ll lose sight of the galaxy….

Hello Tribbers…

This is my first post on “this” side of the blogosphere and with it I’m hoping to collect information that will help us come together for the march on Washington this weekend.  I’ve been in email conversation with Maryscott and she says a lot of people at Booman are planning on meeting up this weekend, so I wanted to chime in and throw my hat into the mix.

I’ve been coordinating a “koskontingent” for the march over at dailykos.com.  There is a solid group forming and, obviously, we’re all enthusiastic.  I have a list of attendees from all over who are awaiting word on when and where to meet (both for Friday and Saturday).  I was going to pick a place where we should gather for Saturday morning (and email everyone on Wednesday) so if anyone here has established a location for your group, please let me know.

Also, Friday night… people are interested to know what people are up to so please let me know of any plans.  I, for one, am certainly interested in taking over a bar or lounge and having people come and go and meet one another.  Let me know!

Please feel free to add yourself to the list if you’d like to receive the update and “final word” on where everyone is meeting.  Please also post below to share your info or feel free to email me: kylek at followingpj dot com.  I’m coming up from Atlanta on Friday and having been looking forward to this for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time!

Thanks to all…
UPDATE:

Looks like there is a plan forming afterall:

For Friday:

4pm onward: Meet for happy hour at the Capitol City Brewery
1100 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC.

Happy hour runs from 4pm-7pm and then against 10pm-close. Appetizers are 1/2 price during happy hour.

For Saturday:

Two options:

9am: Meet at the Holiday Inn
1155 14th Street NW, Washington, DC.
Chill, have breakfast, meet peeps, then head down to the Ellipse.

11am: Meet at Visitor’s Center on Ellipse
(inside the Ellipse at E Street and 15th)
pic/map here.

For info on what is happening, when, and where as far as the march is concerned, go here.