Six degrees.....

Last night my friend, Deb, called and asked if I'd be interested in going to an Al Anon meeting.  I said sure.  She is the one who is on my outdoor soccer team whose husband is in recovery for a pain medication addiction.  Before I became close friends with her I knew she was struggling with something and was very private about it - leaving soccer early, not attending sometimes, very evasive - saying something about having some family problems.....but I didn't know her very well then and it was obvious she didn't want to share what she was going through, understandably.  One day she overheard me talking to a spouse of one of the players on our team about T.  It was then she came up to me and told me she understood what I was going through.  Her husband, who is my friend now, too, is working his way back to get his physician's license back and, of course, working on his recovery full-time.  I babysit for them for free once (sometimes twice a week).  I offered a while back and didn't expect them to take me up on it and I'm glad they did.  I've bonded with them.  A very, very nice couple.  And their children are adorable.  Since I'm not teaching preschoolers at the moment - which I loved - so I'm getting my "fix" bonding with them.  *They recently offered to pay me  (we could really use the money) but I know things are tight for them right now,too, so I told him that I have a son who will need tutoring in chemistry  - so there ya go! I mentioned that Deb called me about us attending the Al Anon meeting together.  Well, we never made it.  We arrived on time (despite the ice storm) but the church parking lot was packed and it was obvious that there was a huge function going on and there would be no Al Anon at that facility.  Sometimes this particular group has to change locations because of the activities this church has.  We do not attend this group regularly so we didn't know where the meeting was changed to - so we went for coffee/lukewarm chocolate.  I'm glad we did that instead because we never seem to have enough time to talk.   I've mentioned before in my journal, I'm sure,  that I do not believe in coincidences - especially when someone is put into ones life just at the right time and for the right reason.  Well - Deb and I were all over the map in our conversation at the coffee shop- no direction but it all seemed to get tied in together - full circle.  One of the things we were talking about was coincidences v the Divine Intervention.  She gave me a book to read called "Closer Than Your Skin" - one of the chapters talked about "tuning in" into the messengers or the people God puts into a person's life.  He speaks to us if we "listen" closely.  I told her that I received an e-mail, recently, called "The Girl And The Apple".  In a nutshell - it was about a Jewish boy, 14, in a concentration camp who had befriended a girl from the other side of the fence.  She lived in a farm not far from the prison and their friendship started with her giving him an apple that she tossed over the fence.  Everyday she brought him something to eat - and, of course, they were very careful not to get caught.  Well, eventually, at the 11th hour, a rescue team of soldiers came and saved the starving prisoners, just moments away from being killed by the gas chamber.  A "few" years later this young man was living in the states, had started a business, but was single.  A friend encouraged him to date and talked him into a double date.  You guessed it.  Yes - after a brief conversation his date ended up being the girl who brought food to him.  He proposed to her on the first date.  They married.  And it's supposed to be a true story.   Well, after telling Deb the story I told her that I sent a response to the person who had sent to me - telling her that it reminded me of a true story a man I met told me back during the Labor Day weekend, when I was sitting out front of our local coffee shop collecting funds for the suicide prevention group, indirectly, for the high school.  I told her that the man I met was a doctor named, Ed, who volunteered in Iraq and told me an amazing story about what had happened to him.  Well...you should have seen the look on her face!  She said she had chills.  Why?  Apparently, I had told her the story about this fellow before, but she didn't remember who it was who had told her.  She asked around but could not get an answer.  And why did she want to know?  Her husband and this fellow met up very recently.  And that was when I got the chills.  I really, really wanted to talk to this fellow from Iraq again.  His stories were so intriguing and inspiring that I could not get them out of my head.  I shared the stories with anyone who would listen.  In fact, it was a Saturday when I had met Ed and on Thursday night, I was at the organization's board meeting when my cell went off.  It was my husband telling me that Ed spoke at the local club my husband belongs to!    Anyway,  back on Labor Day weekend, sitting in front of our local coffee shop (table, chairs, signs, brochures, collection jar) greeting people and asking for support for the suicide prevention program for the high school was a good place to be.  It was a very busy morning (annual kids soccer tournament in town) and just about everyone that was either in their way in the shop or out gave something.  All the while either me, my oldest son (always the helper), or a student from the high school were talking and explaining what the program was for.  Next or even a bit behind me was a man sitting drinking his coffee outside the shop with us.  I saw and heard him talking to someone but after the othere man left and there was a lull for us at the table - he struck up a conversation - asking what we were collecting money for.  I knew he had to have known because he had to have heard us, but I told him, anyway.  He said he was over in Iraq for the second time last Christmas and treated soldiers for depression.  He also said there were quite a few suicides during the time he was there.  It was frustrating because the army was not equipped to treat the soldiers properly for their various mental illnesses.   Anyway, he told me story after story about his experiences over there that really mesmerized me.  I couldn't get enough of them.  Oh - before I forget - this guy is not young - late to early 60's.  I don't know what his rank name is but I do know that he volunteered to serve in Iraq.  I bet you can imagine what people were saying "What? Why?  Are you going through some kind of mid-life crisis?"  OR "Are you crazy?".  Here this guy is living in a huge, beautiful home, is close to retiring.....could be playing golf but no.....he's put himself in harms way to help others.  He mentioned to me that he had a son over there, which is one of the reasons he felt compelled to do his part, I guess.  Do you know what his response was to the people who commented on his state of mind?  He told people that he was going over there to "help his neighbor's son".  Wow.   What a sacrifice for, not only the brave and selfless young men who risk their lives over there, but it is something else that this well-to-do older man to do the same.  He told me, at times, it was extremely difficult and very scary, telling me the details of what he encountered.  During those times (one was Christmas Eve) he asked himself "What - am I crazy?" What am I doing here?"  Well, he got his answer. One day a young soldier was brought in because he had fallen out of a helicopter.  His injuries were very extensive and the other physicians had written him off, saying there was nothing they could do.  For some reason, Ed, knew what to do to save this young man's life, and he did.  I am not sure if Ed had asked the boy before he treated him, or after but, at some point, Ed managed to ask him where he was from.  The boy told him the town.  He was from our city (two towns over).  So.....you see....he did save "his neighbor's son".    Later, back in the States, Ed is at the airport.  Maybe he had his uniform on which is why this woman started talking to him.  She tells him that she has a son in Iraq.  The woman also said that her son had been in an accident.  He had fallen out of a helicopter and that she was forever grateful for the doctor who saved her son's life.  After Ed asked her a few questions and she responded, he told her that HE was that doctor!  Needless to say, the woman hugged him (said she wouldn't let go) sobbing into this arms, thanking him profusely!  Can you imagine?    Ed ended up talking to me for a few hours and then he said he had to go home to cut his lawn.  It was the fastest few hours I have ever spent.  I had mentioned earlier to him that he should write an article about that encounter.  He said he's writing a book.  When he was leaving I stopped him and asked him if he had come up with a name, yet, for the book.  He said no.  Later I shared the story with my sister and she suggested "My Neighbor's Son".  Ever since then I wanted to see if he had come up with a name.  If not, perhaps he would like the name my sister thought of.  I guess I could have called him but that would have been awkward for me.  I know where he lives, too.  The next night (after meeting him) guess where I was?  Down the street from his home at a party one of our soccer buddies was giving.  My friend's son used to cut his lawn.  My friend commented he was very picky about how his lawn should be cut.  Crew cut? All along I was hoping to meet up with him again and who knows?  Maybe I will since Deb's husband is in contact with him.  Oh - Ed  had also told me that his sons used to get into trouble and had been arrested here in our town.  He had a few stories about that, too.  So strange because I could relate with that one but I didn't say anything because one of the helpers helping us out was in T's class.  I didn't want to share it and have her listen. Anyway -- what do they say about 6 degrees of separation?  Divine Intervention -  I say.