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December 16, 2002
Red Cross
Red Cross
I got a call late yesterday afternoon that my ex-father-in-law had passed away unexpectedly, and my ex's family needed me to get in touch with my kids to let them know. My daughter was working at our local hospital, so was fairly easy to track down. My son, as you know, has been recently stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and doesn't have a phone yet. Enter the power of the Internet. I knew that the Red Cross has a toll-free number for just such emergencies for the families of servicemen, and tracked it down in a few minutes. I call, give the contact info that I do know for my son, answered some questions about what had happened for a very nice lady. Got a call about 30 minutes or so later from another very nice local Red Cross lady looking for some additional information. She tells me that it can take up to 24-48 hrs. to reach military personnel, but that they were going to try & track my son down much faster than that, given the circumstances. I tell her I expected it to take a while, since I'm calling late Sunday evening, and thank her for helping me.I get a call from my son about 2 hrs. from my initial call to the Red Cross. Wow! I don't know what strings that lady pulled, but I'm impressed...and very grateful. I don't know what I would've done without their help.
My ex-father-in-law was a really nice, decent man, one of the few members of my ex's family that I have always liked and respected. I have many fond memories of playing cut-throat "high-nine", partnered with my sister-in-law, against him and one of his more zany friends. I will miss him.
UPDATE: It's an ill wind that blows no good...just talked to my son, and he's been allowed to take about 20 days leave. He said everyone over there was moving heaven & earth to get him a flight home ASAP, and to help him with the astronomical cost. He'll be calling back as soon as his itinerary is final. I regret the circumstances, but I am _so_ excited that he'll be here for Christmas after all. Does that make me a bad person? If so, I don't care. At least maybe now I'll stop bursting into tears everytime I hear "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
Posted by Rita at December 16, 2002 07:24 AM