Thankfully You Will Tell Me Your Suggestions…
Ξ July 11th, 2008 | → | ∇ guest posts |
My little cousin Sarah got married to her Marine on June 25th. Unfortunately he had to head to the Mojave Desert for training on July 5th so the young bride is left at home, missing her new husband. He won’t be returning until after his (second) tour in Iraq, maybe April? Spring is a long way away for a new, and pregnant, wife.
And then my inbox alerts me to a new message from Sarah. Which is now a guest post. 
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a problem that needs your solutions:
So I’ve just realized that when I can’t come up with a good enough answer to something (usually something that can take multiple answers, like, hmm, wedding music) the next place I head is your blog… hah.
So here’s my thing this time -
Matt will be going to Iraq in mid-August. I plan to write - a lot. Email is nice, but I think letter are better for a few reasons… first, I’ve always loved getting mail. It’s like mini Christmas presents. Second, he can take letters with him since he’s not going to be on base all the time. I don’t know if they have access to a printer, at least not for personal stuff, so I’m cutting that step out. Third, I just think letters are really heartfelt. You can see emotion in handwriting and, at least for me, it seems like there’s more feeling behind it. So while I’ll be emailing too, I plan to be writing my butt off.
Here’s the catch. While letters are great to get and send, I want to keep them interesting. With all the stuff going on in our lives right now, I’m sure there’s not going to be a shortage of material. I’m looking for more creative mediums though. For example, when dad was in Germany, mom would write all the time. So she started doing things like writing around the border of the paper and spiraling in, writing backwards, writing in different colors. Silly stuff. Anyone have any nifty ideas to jazz up a regular letter?
Next thing - I’d like to try to send “stuff” about once a week. I’ve got 25 flat rate boxes on the way - these things are ingenious. For $10.95, you can send as much as you can cram into this box any where in the world. But the boxes aren’t huge - think, maybe shoe box on steroids? I’m trying to come up with some things to send over. Beyond the normal stuff that he would need like bug spray and snacks and stuff like that, I’d like to send stuff that he and the guys he’s with can have some fun with. The one thing I’ve heard so far is mini squirt guns. Apparently, they have a blast with them…
I’m feeling a little stumped on this - like I’ve got ‘creativity block’. I can think of a bunch of really regular stuff, but I think it would be cool to put the extra time and effort in to make it more personal.
Let me know whatcha think…
Sarah
Personally, I think Sarah is rather brave asking the big, bad Internetz for suggestions, but she loves you guys (I do, too!). Take it easy on her and leave a comment with your ideas. Thanks!
xoxo
on July 11th, 2008 at 3:16 am
What would I want a box full of if I were stuck in the desert with a bunch of sweaty, lonely, buff young guys… *thinking* *thinking* *thinking* … lube and chap stick baby, lube and chap stick.
(I also hear that mix cd’s are a nice touch.)
on July 11th, 2008 at 6:33 am
My brother was over there, and my grandmother sent him a silly inflatable bunny she got at the Dollar store for Easter. Really stupid. Except that the guys in his unit made that damn bunny a mascot and it went on missions with them, and had a reserved seat in the truck.
Anything from home is always good. Even if we think it’s silly, trust me, they will love it.
on July 11th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I immediately thought of Dave on this one, since he’s told me more than once about Anysoldier.com. You can look here for ideas on things to send: http://www.anysoldier.com/WhatToSend.cfm
As for fun things…I know if I were over there, I’d want paperbacks, comic books, movies, and blank journals. Plus stationery and envelopes so I could write back!
on July 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Body armor.
on July 11th, 2008 at 8:35 am
a friend of mine is in a similar situation. they have a t-shirt that they send back and forth. they have been writing single words on it each time they have it to describe how they feel about each other and what they are going through with the date under each word. construction paper is sent often along with origami paper. (he folds) pine cones and those little helicopter seeds from oak(?) trees have gone over along with pebbles from the river on his dad’s property. a section of her hair, braided, got sent to him too.
create your own stationary. gently fade a picture of a familiar place and print it out. use that for stationary. angela takes a picture of her and their daughter sitting on a bench in their back yard once a week, regardless of the weather, and uses that. (hey, when space is limited multitasking items are greatly appreciated!)
and karl’s right, anysoldier.com has tons of great ideas.
on July 11th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Being a Navy Wife of 10 years, I am going to be LONG WINDED abotu this…I also have been through 3 deployments and more time out to sea than I’d like to think about. I’ve had more briefings on this stuff than I want to remember. Here is my advice/suggestions for your cousin.
1. Write, everyday, then after a week, send him the stack. They don’t always have time to get the mail, and mail drops don’t go over all the time. Plus, you actually will save on postage. and there will be less waste. Honestly, don’t go all out for the fanciness. It will be appreciated once in a while, but sinply getting different stationary is just as effective and less time consuming, giving you more time to write.
2. send emails anyway. They love them.
3. DO NOT send any liquids such as bug spreay. While it is nice you care, it could explode, leak, etc. bad bad bad!!
4. Send him hard candies, like the individually wrapped Life Savers that are sold at Wal-Mart. Choclate is bad, it will melt. if you make baked goods for him, put them in a tin canister first, they won’t get crushed that way. same thing with chips. seal the canister with clear packing tape so it won’t accidentally open, and the stuff goes stale.
5. Since you are pregnant, take a sideways view of your belly every 3-4 weeks. They love that.
6. Books, Magazines, water balloons, small squirt guns, disposable cameras or cards for their digital cameras, SOCKS, T-SHIRTS (brown can be bought at the exchange in uniform shop), handheld games, like solitaire, poker, etc. (can be bought in toy section at Wal-mart)
6. buy a bunch of greeting cards that say I love you, I miss you, etc. If he misses any holidays, even Halloween or whatever, send him a card for it.
that’s all I can suggest for you now…I know I took up a bunch of space and should have just emailed. please feel free to send her MY email. The Marines IS a part of the Navy Department afterall, so much of this stuff holds true for both of our branches. I am happy to talk to her about the wired world of military wives if he has any concerns, questions, etc.
on July 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I was going to say what Cissa said about using different stationary.
What about scenting the paper? I mean, your perfume is nice - and then maybe you can find other things that symbolize what’s going on at home. The smell of pine tress for example? Shit, I don’t know.
on July 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Trying having a conversation — cut out an interessting article from the local paper or magazine and write your thoughts on it as if you were sitting down and talking with him. Things that would make him laugh, local things that he would appreciate, etc.
You could send him some kind of token that he can carry with him. Sundance has a few (http://search.sundancecatalog.com/search.aspx?SH=A%3dsilver%7eB%3dsilver%7eD%3d9%7eG%3d775%5e2%7eK%3d4%7eL%3d1%7eM%3d119%7eN%3d2%7e&SI=879cb260-22e9-4a1e-a6cf-aca27329d8e5&LAP=0&Action=2&AnswerID=1665&qID=200).
on July 11th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
When my dad was over in the Gulf War we sent him different ‘care’ packages. The one he remembers most was the one around Christmas when we sent cookies and silly Christmas decorations and little gifts like he used to put in our stockings. And fake snow in a can. He said they loved that.
on July 11th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Ok first I will be sending you a professional Warrior care sender to opine. She will have the answers. Me? I’d want lotion
and pictures especially if shes pregnant.
showing progress
and stuff to pass time
mags
any kind
sports
cars
whatever
anything
playing cards
checkers/chess stuff
things of that nature.
Ok off to find the best ever pro stuff sender, she will have the answers and the best way to send and tips all around about sending
(send lotion)
Thanks to her and her hubs too!
her for giving him up and him for being willing to go so I can sit on my ft ass and not worry about some asshead f-in with me!
on July 11th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
fat*
on July 11th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
jester -
i so almost swallowed my tongue when i read “lube and chap stick baby.” love you! (mix cds is a way cool idea.)
msb -
lots of dollar store runs at the holidays. check!
karl -
stuff to write back is brilliant! i never would have thought of that. and thanks for the link. mwah.
avit -
like in iron man?
heather -
you, my friend, totally came through on this one. fantastic ideas. thanks!
cissa -
i am LOVING that you took up a bunch of space here. thank you for taking the time to offer suggestions from your experienced self. seriously, i can’t thank you enough. i’ll be sure to pass along your info to sarah. very appreciated!
britt -
pine tree scented paper at christmas would be way cool! great idea.
finn -
neat idea! i like the sending of articles and stuff. my mom only lived 20 minutes from me and yet she would save a bunch of stuff that she called her “a drive” that needed “dumped” every time i saw her…i left with a stack of stuff to go through.
turn -
fake snow is fun even in pittsburgh when we have the real stuff. cool idea! thanks for the suggestions.
sage -
again with the lotion. i’m thinking we are gonna send that boy so many gallons of lotion that he will have the softest, ahem, hands around. hehe
p.s. your incredible ass is far from fat, although you should post more photos of it.
on July 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I hear the by product of soft hands is greater and less stress!!
on July 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
This has to be fast or I’ll miss the post office this morning…..lol..
Things that go well in an envelope and cost less than a dollar to send.
3 or 4 drink mixes (single serve. –no lemonade or tea type it’s not thirst quenching)
microwave oatmeal paks
popcorn bag (if you can find it look for single sreriving cspice packets to add tot he popcorn to jazz it up…pizza hut sends cheese and pepper paks with their deliveries those are yummy sprinkled on popcorn.
you can also send a movie with this and make it a movie and popcorn night letter…
cocoa mix
DVD movies/music–remember tape TV WITH commercials my guys love anything from home. Think Spike TV, hisotry channel, discovery etc…anything that blows up, moves fast, hot women, fighting–think testosterone ridden.
flat square packages of gum thinner the better
poprocks
For boxes, I always get pictures from google images, put them on the outside of the box and laminate it to the box with clear packing tape…or let the kids color on it or I wirte silly stuff on the outside in marker. It depends on the situation..my last one to go out had pictures of surfing all over it…he is totally missing the water so it was a hit!
parties in a box are a blast…ummm last one out here was mexican food night…I sent canned chicken, taco stuff, spices, taco shells, rice in a pouch, refried beans, velveeta, dip bowls,rotel…they had a great time with it—well so did I
lol.
As for the letters keep a digital camera handy and wherever you go and see something that you would comment on if he wa there snap it and then use it in your letter. IF you go somewhere fun give him a tour.
I never pass an ice house having a car or bike show and don’t go have a beer, talk to the folks displaying their cars or bikes and eventaully take pics of them waving at the cmaera or holding fingers up of my guys unit numbers or a piece of paper saying somthing like “Marines rock” or something like that…
this is getting too long but if you’d like to chat feel free to contact me. Milsupport is really important to me. I want to say thank you so much for taking care of your family. Tell that young woman Im proud of her sacrifice and her new groom.
on July 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
sage -
sounds like you might be stress free, my friend!
hope -
i am all about grateful for your fantastic suggestions. phenomenal comment!!! (fyi - NEVER too long of a comment. i seriously appreciate you taking the time to give such special advice.)
on July 13th, 2008 at 12:11 am
An inflatable swimming pool. Seriously. Even just a little baby one. Great for cooling off in. And useful for washing stuff in a pinch. Also, inflatable beach toys.
T.C.
on July 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
When my son-in-law was over there (three times, by the way…) my daughter and I sent him porno mags with the dirty parts covered up with sticky notes that said things like “don’t look under here” and “I told you not to look under here.” He and all of his buddies got a big kick out of it. You could cut out pictures of your face and paste them onto the girls bodies. Then he, and all of his buddies, could fantasize about you.
But seriously, the Marines that we were sending stuff to apreciated anything and everything that we would send. If you need more boxes, let me know and I’ll send some to you. Unlike some folks that post comments on these boards, I am completely and totally in support of those kids over there and I think that I shall never be able to express my thanks to any one of them, let alone all of them. I am praying for Matt and all of his buddies. I am praying for Sarah and all that she will go through during this difficult time.
on July 16th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
tc -
excellent ideas!! thanks for stopping by.
dvd -
love the don’t look under here porn suggestion. but even more i am blown away that you are offering more boxes to sarah. that is so sweet. thanks, my dear donnie. i’ll make her come on the duck tour with us when you & your family come down next month. you’ll enjoy meeting sarah. we are a lot alike.