A Death in the DU Family | Mari333's Husband | What DU can DO

[nostamj]

A Death in the DU Family | Mari333 | What DU can DO

As most of you know by now, Mari333's husband (Hogarth on DU) was killed in a car accident on Thursday night. Since then, over 700 Duers have posted their condolences and many have asked what they can do.

Here's what we can do.

CONTACT SENATOR LEVIN

Mari has been adamant that she does not want a cash gift. Her number one request is help in keeping her stepson, Michael Shepard at home. So, she has asked that we contact Senator Levin who came to her aid when her other son was caught in the 'stop loss' trap and urge him to help keep Michael from being returned to Iraq.

http://levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

WASHINGTON
269 Russell Office Building
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510-2202

Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

DONATIONS

As stated above, Mari does not want a cash gift. But donations in her husband's name can be made to:

Military Families Speak Out (www.mfso.org ) in her husband's name (Scott Shepard). they don't have PayPal so you'll have to send checks via snailmail:

MFSO
P.O. Box 549
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

OR

You can make a donation via PayPal at Amanda Kato (vetwife)'s website.

I am the Founder of A Veterans Organization and can accept whatever you feel you want to give and then the organization will cut Marie a check from these donations.

This is for all of you who feel the need to do something for her in the way of a personal monetary way. United Veterans of America is a Non Profit Veterans Organization 501 c (19) and the Tax Id number is listed on the link and page. I will list it here as well. 58-2516283.

I spoke with Marie and she is very humble and wants her son home. I do understand those who feel they must show their love to her NOW.

Please understand if she refuses the donation check from all who contribute to her, the donations will be given to MFSO or the charity she wishes to contribute to in her husband's name.

http://groups.msn.com/UnitedVeteransofAmerica /

Marie's Story Online
http://groups.msn.com/UnitedVeteransofAmerica
Listed on sidebar "A Military's Mom story"

FLOWERS

Just got this from Ann Arbor Dem:

I just spoke with the funeral home. The family isn't going to have a memorial service there....they are planning a luncheon at the Methodist Church. I spoke with the folks at the church and the timing of the luncheon hinges on when Michael gets home (of course).

I've set up an account with Laura at The Rose Shop in South Haven. ( 253 Center Street South Haven, MI 49090) The phone number is 269.637.3252. They will be in touch with the church to find out when the luncheon will be held. (Gotta love small towns...the lady I talked to knows the secretary at the church.)

Because we don't know how much money will be sent by the DU folks, they will start with a floral arrangement. And then, depending on the amount of money that is sent, they will add some nice plants in planters.

She said they don't charge a delivery fee for the funeral home orders, and since this is for a memorial (and the church is just down the street), they won't charge a delivery fee for our orders.

The card will read "From Your Friends at DU" with individual names. (Cool thing...the lady at the flower shop is not a fan of our current administration either.)

When people call, they don't to ask for Laura. They can just say it's for the Scott Shepard Memorial.

As far as a cut-off date/time....Laura knows it will depend on when Michael gets home so she will let callers know when she finds out.

Great job AAD!

[Ripley]

1. Thanks nostamj...

This was the first thing I was looking for this morning...a way to offer help in a concrete way. Thanks for letting us know what she wants and the contact info.

[truth2power]

2. Thanks Nostamj.

Keeping this kicked.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Thanks nostamj!

We'll do what we can.

FSC

[demnan]

4. I just contacted Senator Levin

I wanted to point out that if you are out of state, just put in South Haven, Michigan as the city and state. Congresscritters usually don't respond to letters from other states.

[Catherine Vincent]

62. Do they at least read them?

I wish I had read your post before I sent my email.

[jdj]

5. Do we need more info about him?

Do we need the unit #?

I used to have it, that's assuming it hasn't changed...there may be more than one Michael Shepard...

[Rainbowreflect]

6. Thank you!

:kick:

[vetwife]

10. Marie wants all to know she loves all of her DU Family

After speaking to Marie and the family last night, she is so very overwrought and consumed with grief but through her tears still wanted me to convey that she appreciates and loves all of you. Marie is a warrior for Peace and has fought to stop this insane war. She lost her first husband in an oil explosion when the republicans relaxed the OSHA standards when she was 36 and now she feels she has lost this husband because of Iraq.

She told me that her husband in her mind is a victim of this war. The stress that was constantly on their family by having a son in Iraq while protsting the war was very damaging to her late husband's mental health. She also wanted to relate that the dissent was overwhelming but they still chose to dissent. The constant pictures of the Torture in Iraq even though her son was not involved, but was an MP, the protests she took on Iraq, and the counseling her husband had to receive after being so harrassed by the haters was more than they could bear at times. We at DU salute Marie 333 and to her husband, may your son never have to return to a war that you believed unjust. God Bless the people on this board.
She wants Michael to not have to return to this insanity, as his last words before deployment were, "If I have to go to Iraq, this will kill my Dad". She is very afraid of his feelings now if he returns.

[Rainbowreflect]

25. There are no words for the sadness I feel for her & her family.

I admire her more than I can say and her passion against this war has inspired me.
Please send here my love & sympathy.

[Hekate]

92. I need a land address

Dear Vetwife:
Thank you for all you are doing to help Marianne. I don't send my credit card info over the internet, so can you please PM me with a land address so I can send a check to Marianne now that she's decided to accept our help. Since your organization is handling the donations to her family, I will send it to you -- that's the address I need.
Thank you,
Hekate

[jdj]

7. Mari mentions his unit # in the link in the OP (mari's story online.

sorry. I just thought it would help Senator Levin.

[nostamj]

9. i don't think that info should be posted

I could be wrong but... I think the info that he has just been flown home for his father's funeral would be enough.

don't want any trouble for anyone...

[nostamj]

12. i didn't realize that.

it was just a 'reflex' paranoia thing with me... life in bushworld ya know...

[jdj]

13. No, you are right.

NEVER underestimate the sickness of lurking freepers.

[madrchsod]

8. got it done

i asked his staff to check out democratic underground to see how we feel

[LibDemAlways]

11. Thanks for the updated info

regarding the flowers. I'm calling the florist this am.

[vetwife]

14. On behalf of Michael, United Veterans requested that Senator Levin

look into the matter of keeping Michael stateside. I hope this information helps since this organization was designed to help veterans and their families. I asked Senator Levin to contact the
appropriate people to help keep this one soldier home with his Mother and to look into the exemption of no redeployment to Iraq.

[calimary]

22. Kick! You can also use the TOLL FREE number - 1 800 839 - 5276.

Just did it, myself.

PRESSURE, guys. PRESSURE. Don't give up. Don't get complacent.

[Hawkeye-X]

78. I wanna say..

:yourock:

:grouphug:

Thank you for helping mari333! :thumbsup:

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Thanks for the info. I couldn't send condolences via DU

because I've been out of touch the past couple days.

:grouphug:

[ronnykmarshall]

16. Donation sent.

I hope they paypal worked. I check back if it didn't.

[vetwife]

17. a donation was received about thirty minutes ago. You should

receive a receipt from pay pal.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Oh good.

Thanks for letting me know. When I clicked to send, it took me back to the same page and I didn't want to double send it.

[Misunderestimator]

36. Can you provide the link to pay through paypal?

Maybe I missed it above somewhere :shrug:

[Misunderestimator]

39. I see it now: http://groups.msn.com/UnitedVeteransofAmerica/

http://groups.msn.com/UnitedVeteransofAmerica/

But I am going to have to wait till later as the site is blocked by my company's firewall/filter... sheesh.

Thanks, vetwife, for doing this.

[LosinIt]

19. Senator Levin's website can't take the letter

we may have brought the server to its knees. I will try again later.

[LosinIt]

23. and no one is answering the phone

?????

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. Thanks very much.

I am donating to MFSO on their behalf.

[calimary]

21. Thanks for this info, nostamj - this is MOST helpful.

[vetwife]

24. Sen. Levin's office..Extremely hard to get through !

But don't give up !

[calimary]

26. So was the flower shop. I had to call a couple of times. Line was busy.

[RedEagle]

34. Just got through to both, don't give up!

Kick!

[anarchy1999]

33. I just got through a little while ago and they are getting lots of calls!

Keep it up DU'ers. I also just gave to the flower shop. They are getting lots of calls as well. Be sure to let them know you are calling from DU!

[nostamj]

27. just finished a LONG phone call with Mari...

she was utterly overwhelmed by the outpouring of condolences and support from DU. "I had no idea, NO IDEA how many wonderful people there were..."

I can assure you that while this is a devastating blow, the FIGHT has not been knocked out of her. She is prepared to fight to keep Michael stateside and is looking for any forum to get her message out.

She has also reconsidered accepting a monetary gift from DU to help with the funeral expenses. You can make a donation through vetwife's website which is linked in the original post.

She is still not sure when Michael will arrive. It will be either tomorrow or Sunday.

She plans to speak on The Guy James Show tomorrow, but that will depend on Michael's arrival time.

She asked me to send her love and thanks to everyone on DU and appreciates your support in helping Michael.

[eleny]

38. Thank you Jeff

I'm so glad you were able to speak with Mari. A donation has been made via PayPal.

And thanks to Amanda, as well, for helping to facilitate making donations.

You all are the best!

[dflprincess]

65. Thanks to Jeff and Amanda from me too

I just sent a donation in. Let's hope we can all at least take the some of the worry about expenses off Mari's plate.

[Sugarbleus]

86. Just sent a donation...via vetwife's site

thanks for keeping us posted and letting Mari know we care..

[TrustingDog]

28. anyone know the details of the accident?

Mari333, I am so sorry for your loss and the incredible hardships you are going through.

[stellanoir]

46. hydroplaned-head injuries

that's all I know. So sad.

[truth2power]

29. I called Sen. Levin's ofc.

about 10am this morning. The young woman answering the phone said she hadn't heard anything about this.

Good to know others here have been on this now.

[calimary]

31. I called about 20 minutes ago - and the young lady who took my call

said she HAD heard about this. She said they'd been getting quite a few calls about this today. She also seemed familiar with details. The moment I mentioned Michael's name, she acknowledged it.

Keep it up, guys!

[BeFree]

30. Even prouder of DU'ers

Ya'll are something. The heart of the real America that I love.

I wonder if the WSJ will pick up on these threads, or do they just relate the things they think are bad? This story needs to be front page of all the majors.

Bless you and your family Mari, you and your's are in our thoughts.

[VOX]

32. Thanks, nostamj -- just donated to United Veterans of America...

In memory of Scott Shepard.

Will phone Sen. Levin's office at noon my time (Pacific).

Thanks for posting all necessary information.

[benburch]

35. Done.

I sent off a Paypal just now.

[villager]

37. Done. Payment to UVA.

Thanks, Nostamj.

[ChickMagic]

40. I just called Levin's office

The woman who answered said they have received tons of calls about Mari. She said she didn't know what they could specifically do, but Sen. Levin is going to address this and do his best.

[nostamj]

90. I just sent your post to Mari...

I know the "tons of calls" reference will be heartening to her.

thanks for your support. (and everyone else!)

[Lindacooks]

41. Done, and thank you.

I emailed Senator Levin's office and donated to Mari.

[jukes]

42. kick n/t

:kick:

[nostamj]

43. wow! sounds like DU is coming through...

I just sent over 150 PMs to everyone who wanted "in" on this...

my hands are FRIED.

[SW FL Dem]

44. Thanks Nostamj

I sent a donation in Scott Shepard's name to MFSO this morning.

[Loki]

45. Thanks nostamj and vetwife

Sent donation thru PayPal . We really are one big family.

[Desertrose]

47. did it..donated to Vetwife's site

in memory of Scott Shepard and Mari333.

Will do what I can on the Levin & flower part too.


See, we really are a big family here at DU.

:loveya: bless everyone
:grouphug:
DR

hang in Mari333- we are sure thinking of you......

[joanski01]

48. Please add me to the list

of people who don't know Mari333 personally, but have kept up with her postings and who love her. I have just contributed via PayPal, and I do hope Marie will accept the money and put it towards her expenses. She surely doesn't need money worries on top of everything else that she's going through right now.

[johnnie]

49. I just gave via Paypal

I am so proud of my fellow DUers. This is truly a wonderful group of people.

[tandot]

50. donated to United Veterans of America

Even if Mari is refusing the money...I know it will go to a good cause.

[nostamj]

51. Mari has reconsidered and will accept the gift

see my post #27

[thinkingwoman]

52. thank you

what an incredible community we have here at DU. I am humbled to see how many of us are moved to express our grief for mari333 and her family.

I want to say thanks to everyone involved in making it possible for us to help mari333 in some small way. I'm going to go do my part now.

[nini]

53. done....

.

[wryter2000]

54. I contributed

But there's a problem with Levin's website. Maybe we overloaded it. Will try again later.

[anarchy1999]

55. Just doing my small part. Keep this at the top of the page.

Thanks. Anarchy1999

www.dallaspeacecenter.org

[calimary]

131. Me too. Kick!

[Bunny]

56. Donations done.

Flowers, United Veterans of America, and MFSO. Thanks to nostamj, vetwife, and Ann Arbor Dem for coordinating this. It feels good to be able to do something concrete in the face of this completely senseless tragedy. I'll also contact Senator Levin.

Although we often bicker among ourselves, we are a family here. It's important to take care of our own.

[nostamj]

57. i got through to the florist...

he wouldn't give me a total but, said there was "quite a bit" - he certainly was aware of the order!

good job DU!

[vetwife]

58. Just got a total of 465.00 of Donations at this time Thanks all !

If I missed emailing anyone personally, I apologize. I am tracking and recording the amounts and names.......Please keep your paypal receipts.


I can't get through to the Florist....But will keep trying !

[Marlie]

60. Finally got through to the Florist

Flowers make me happy, just hope lots of them will make her feel
the warmth we feel for her.

[Hutzpa]

59. It is always a sad occassion

when someone you love departs from one life to another, I tend to put myself in that person's position just to understand their grief. Mari take heart, we will remember you in our prayers.

Song: Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.


MAY GOD HELP YOU THROUGH THESE TRYING TIMES.



:(



:hug:

[Terran]

61. Donation made

to United Vets. Bless you all for helping us help Mari!

Dirk

[Catherine Vincent]

63. Mailed my check today to MFSO and contacted Sen. Levin's office

Anything to help out a fellow DUer in need.

[Bunny]

64. Kick

:kick:

[vetwife]

66. We are up to 500 and doing pretty good...

it takes about 3 business days to post to the bank electronically but Marie will have her check and your sympathies
next week. You all are fantastic. Whether it is the flowers, the donations to MFSO, or the one going directly to Marie, you are all great !

[Bunny]

68. That's great! I'm sure there'll be even more, once people get

home from work or school and have a chance to read this. Some folks may have to wait till payday, too.

We have a very nice community here, and I'm proud to be a part of it.:grouphug:

[vetwife]

70. I just talked to Marie.....She is sending me something to post...

I will post as soon as I receive it, It is a message for you all.

[nostamj]

71. great.

one this we discussed this morning was the healing power of writing... (and I had no idea her husband was a novelist and short story writer)

if she's up to it, Guy has her on the schedule for an interview in the 4 o'clock hour (at her request, if Michael has not arrived yet)

[wellstone_democrat]

88. I'm one that is just home and just aware of the new plans

my family will be sending what we can to all of the named sources. I'm so happy that she is willing to accept the help of her community here on DU. I've always been a proud member but never prouder than at this moment.

Thanks so very much Jeff and Amanda for all your hard work. I'm proud to "know" you both.

[vetwife]

89. This is one community in America I love tonight ! This is where

true compassion and empathy for another is. This is America ! the America I remember. Can you just see those freeps on Free Republic giving a hoot about one of their own. They would just slap them on the back and say, Well things will get better, we'll put your name in the prayer box". In the meantime they would go out to eat and go their merry way !
I am proud to just be here and help in any way I can.

[nostamj]

94. amanda! hekate (#92 above)

needs snail mail from you for a UVA donation.

[Wind Dancer]

67. Thanks for organizing this.

Sent paypal to vetwife and contacted Senator Levin. Please keep us updated.

[Sugarbleus]

69. Thank you nostamj...

Just signed on. Will find a place to donate, then try contacting Sen. Levin.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for an opportunity to help!

[vetwife]

72. Written by Marie 333 to all ......sent to me via email just now

This is from Mari 333...Written in June...Wants all of you to read it ! It is Powerful !
----------------------------------------------------------

Scurrilous Fools, Bastards, and Fanatics
Scurrilous Fools, Bastards, and Fanatics

by Marie 333

Let me know if it's spring.

I have a calendar, and there it is, SPRING, bold letters on a bold day
marking the

opening bell of the first lilacs.

I haven't noticed. Even the spring peepers here were given a back seat to
my
anxiety,

angst, and furious rage. I never miss the spring peepers, it is that one
glorius time of year

when I can sit on the back porch, my bare feet and toes curled over a
concrete step, and sip

mint tea and spoonfuls of sugar while I listen to those horny little frogs
by the pond .

That pleasure, this year, was denied. I barely noticed the first robin.

My stepson is stationed at Abu Ghraib.

A little over three and one half years ago, my husband and I sat and shook
our heads as

we watched the Supreme Court throw the gauntlet down and shove George W
Bush
into

Oval Office. Ready to rock and roll, and in financially savvy shape at the
time, we both jumped on

a plane and headed straight to DC to protest the inauguration of a minor
and
even

fraudulent President.

In three and one half years, and let me be painstakingly blunt, we have
lost
half our retirement

savings after 9/11, almost lost my oldest son to this debacle in Iraq (the
"Rumsfield policy military" tried to stop loss

him and keep him from an honourable discharge), and on Christmas Eve, 2003,
my 21

year old stepson was given his marching orders for Operation Iraqi
Bullshit..oh pardon me,

"Freedom". No, Virginia, he isn't in the Marines. The kid is an MP with the
Army Reserves.

Yes, Virginia, he does NOT want to be there.

Life can turn on a dime.

Something happens to a woman when her family is being skewered by
underachieving

Yalies whose ethics are on par with used car salesmen . Especially if they
formulate policy

in leadership positions that can make or break her children. Something
serious happens.

She becomes enraged, and you do not, I repeat, you do NOT enrage a mother.

I watch George W Bush on the television, when I can bear it, and , to steal
one of his

limp statements, "let me make myself perfectly clear on this", he is my
fucking age, ergo,

he is , as are his little buddies , the same mindless assholes who sat next
to me in class,

wearing striped T shirts and shooting spitballs at the girl-no-one-liked in
6th grade.

Chest beating posturing fools.

I raised three male children who are, as I speak, legally considered
adults.
As is my 21 year old

stepson, who now stands with an 80 pound vest on his body, sweating in 120
degree heat,

holding a weapon and hopefully staying alive until next January, when he is
due to come

home. One thing I always told my sons, when they were growing up, when
describing

'grownups' to them.

"It may look like an adult, it may smell like an adult, but that does not
mean it is an adult".

I can now use George Bush, Donald Rumsfield, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and
the
rest

of the shithouse gang in the White House to drive my previous statement
home
to my

sons.

Michael does email us all from Abu Ghraib. His first emails to us, last
February, were

"I will be stationed at some prison called Abu Ghraib."

The Internet, last bastion of free press for many of us in the last three
and one half years,

provided me with the details. Abu Ghraib, long before it became a household
word as

popular as Wonder Bread, is a complex group of grey buildings, 7 acres of
complexes

and don't think I didn't look it up on the Net as soon as I heard he was
there.

Parents always want to know where their children are. When an earthquake
occurs in

Seattle, you damn well better believe I call my 24 year old son in Seattle
and ask him if

he got knocked on his keister. It's something parents do. You are supposed
to outlive your

children. When they are in harms way, you worry. You worry until you cannot
bear worrying

anymore.

For months, and months, my husband and I watched the news , obsessed with
the news,

every blast near Baghdad made us jump , every time talking head reports
from
Fallujah screamed over the

airwaves, we froze and hurriedly emailed Michael begging him to let us know
he was

still alive.

"Glad the mortars aren't coming in anymore" he would write to us. "22
people
killed and

92 wounded here" he emailed us another night.

My husband sank into despair . "What...is...my...son...seeing?"

The irony in all of this, my husband and I are and have been anti-war
activists from the

beginning. Badges on our belt, we marched in DC twice to protest the
underpinnings and

beginnings of this bloodbath.

Five and one half months later, here we are. Michael is still alive, Abu
Ghraib has not been

demolished, despite George Bush's ranting to the contrary, and my husband
and I can

proudly say we are part of the ever squeezed middle class, the new poor. No
petit

bourgesie life for us, alas, I spent a lot of monies calling
Congresspeople,
the Senate,

writing letter after letter to the Armed Services Committee, and stepping
on
toes.

We also have to move. Yes, there are no jobs in Michigan, which is why
Michael signed

up to be an Army Reservist in the first place. Depression has taken a hold
of the whole

family, not one of us isn't having a nightly panic attack as we wait for
Michael to be released

from his obligatory duty to protect corporate interests and assets,
amusingly called the

"War on Terra".

A war on an abstract. Only a priveledged fraternity Yalie could come up
with
that.

It would be amusing, if it hadn't killed over 800 young men and women, and
over

10,000 innocent civilians. Or more. Who knows? The buck does not seem to
stop

at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"The truth shall set you free", said the mother of the serviceman who
released the

torture photos from Abu Ghraib. And so it shall, mom. Evidently the Boys in
the Back room

in the Oval Office underestimated the techno-geek capabilities of our young
military

men and women in Iraq, our Nintendo/Playstation wielding sons and daughters
who can

download and upload all manner of bytes and gigabytes . We sat them down as
children

in front of Atari and Mario Brothers, and it's been Katy Bar the Door ever
since.

The Oval Office is full of geezers like me. Technology has bypassed us,
and,
to their

ever increasing chagrin, the military servicemembers at Abu Ghraib who
released the

DVD pictures of torture , have outsmarted the suits, the Yalies, and the
clawing last grasps

of Rumsfield and his array of bungling civilian PR people whose hope was to
sell this

fraudulent war to the US public, and sanitize it from the onset.

Amazingly, people bought the hype. Even in my small, unobtrusive Michigan
town, people

bought the hype . "But but but 9/11 was so awful and Saddam Bin Laden was
an
evil man".

The War on (Abstract) Terra was in full swing, and my husband and I
discovered, one car

keyed and dozens of angry drivers trying to run us off the road later, that
our anti war stance

was not that popular at the beginning of these shenanigans. This, even with
a kid in Iraq,

listening to mortars singing overhead at night.

The flags seem to have disappeared as quickly as they appeared. No longer
do
mini vans

zoom past me on the interstate furiously flapping flags like Rommel going
through the

desert. There seems to be a despair, if my fine tuning into the collective
unconcious is

any indicator, a deep angst and horror on the tip of everyone's
conciousness, that we were

lied to , and lied to, and are still being lied to. Michael knows the whole
thing was a lie, from

day one. So did the rest of our family. The tide turns, ever so slowly.

At the beginning of the "war", I felt a sense of urgency. Truth was a
rarity, especially

in the press, where I waited for just one reporter to uncover the think
tanks like Project

for the New American Century, or demand a full accounting of just what the
VULCANS

were and who was involved in their Straussian-agenda to reshape the Middle
East.

After all, we had a child over there, urgency for truth was paramount.

Alas, no reporters seemed the least bit interested in even touching the
Franklin Graham

hype that had permeated the Oval Office Rapture-Ready base of Holier then
Thou punditry

spewing forth Crusading PR to shore up it's fanatical base of voters.

Despair is a kind word to describe my husband and my state of mind at the
time.

Knocking down walls to get to truth is a hard job, especially when you are
one or two

people in a small town where mufflers and large trucks are oft represented
as artistic

endeavors.

Nonetheless, we spoke out, and we kept speaking out. One drop of rain does
not

create a waterfall, but a thousand drops can make a flood. Perhaps all the
people in the

United States who have been pounding down the wall of lies are seeing the
dike break,

finally, from the 9/11 widows to the parents of the soldiers in Iraq who do
not support this

war, from the Vets who are having nightsweats from memories of Vietnam,
from
the man on

street who has seen his job sent over to India, from the mom who lost her
job and is

watching as her possessions have been taken away, from the gas lines and
the
bread lines

I see even in my small town, where disgruntled drivers shake their heads ,
and people

swarm to the local Methodist church to find a decent meal cooked by some
kindly women

and men, from the people who are working 2 jobs for 6 dollars an hour and
cannot even

afford to pay their heating costs for the winter and have to choose between
food and

medicine, from my 77 year old mother who is selling her furniture to pay
for
her

medication.

Or, as my husband so eloquently stated, "Many people only get angry when
their

own ox is being gored."

Gandhi stated once that all tyrants eventually fall, and that the way of
truth and love

always win. Not to despair, he stated, not to despair. They all fall.

I know summer is coming, I can make out the trees, they seem to be loaded
with

leaves, that Norwegian Maple is lit by an ever increasing sunlight that
stays until 9 pm

EST, but I never did get to the flower gardens this year. Haven't weeded a
damn thing.

I spent most of May preparing to sell everything I own to pay off my ever
increasing taxes

as our local economy hits the skids . I can shine shoes for the local
tourists, the factories

here have closed. Even the college graduates are humping for paychecks at
our Wal Mart

Supercenter. Our literacy rates are sky high, and the local community
college is tearing it's

hair out wishing people could read above 9th grade level . The Headstart
programs have

all been cut, and the children are hungry, no Child has been Left Behind, I
can assure you.

Yes, summer is here, and then, it will be fall, and winter. Michael won't
be
here for the

backyard barbeques, or his father's birthday, or my birthday, or even his
own birthday.

You know what? I sold my grill to help pay my property taxes here, so the
backyard

barbeques are now a passe' memory, somewhere in the dustbin of memories
from

the prosperous 1990's , which seem like a thousand years ago . As one
delightful

woman I know in Georgia called and told me today "Honey we are down to some
nasty

macaroni and cheese every day for breakfast/lunch/and dinner."

Far cry, mes amis, from them there downhome Texas Vichysoisse fund raisers
at

2000 dollar a plate where Bush presides, walking in stridulent spurs like
he
has a pants

full, and we know he never rode a horse in his life.

My dad used to say "All the money in the world can't buy you an ounce of
class".

Daddy was right as rain and he described the Ken Lay, Cheney, Rovian, Bush
bunch to a

tee, including their corporate sponsors at Enron, Halliburton, Bechtel, and
every other

thin skinned Jeff Skilling clone that stumbles around in the dark recesses
of their own souls

wishing and hoping they did have class, trying to buy their way to some
semblance of

Being Someone Important, but despite their pissing Ice sculptures and
fastidious yearning

for Faberge' eggs and monstrous appetites for the gaudy baubles of the
world, I have

learned, delightfully so, that those spring peepers on the pond, and that
one Norwegian

maple tree lit tonight by the lowering and eloquent rays of a deep summer
sun, are truly

a wealth that cannot be bought, cannot be touched by nary a dime nor a
dollar, and my

husband and I can only hope that Michael can soon climb that tree, as he
used to do, and

sit by the pond with us and roast marshmallows, and listen to the spring
peepers, who

always come back in the spring, the spring Michael missed this year, while
he stands

in Iraq, a pawn for the Yalieboy and his friends in the White House who
wouldn't even

know what a spring peeper was if it bit them on the ass.

Bring the troops home now.

Mari 333

[nostamj]

77. no, you don't piss off a mother...

powerful stuff!

[calimary]

79. Sigh...

[in_cog_ni_to]

98. Wow.

I'm speechless.

[vetwife]

73. Kick for Marie's words !

[Ann Arbor Dem]

75. Wow

Incredibly powerful words....

:kick:

[Briarius]

74. Done

Thanks for setting this up!

[benburch]

76. Kick

:kick:

[vetwife]

81. She said in tears, "I have lost my best friend"

I have lost my best friend and my partner in life. We were going to grow old together and he wanted his son home and Bush out. HE won't be here for either. Then she cried. He just found a job. After all this time of being out of work and now.......and then she cried. I had no words. The words would not come. I cried too.

[benburch]

82. I can only imagine the state I would be in

if anything happened to my Katy. :(

[vetwife]

83. Ben, I can't even go there in my head with my mate..I can't

It just hurts too bad to even think about it ......

[Sugarbleus]

84. Now, I cry with you too.......

G.damnit! I'm so angry and sad at the same time. I'm a mother too. I am also "killer's" age. I have family that served in military. I have lost loved ones. I understand.

I am sooooo heartbroken for her. She desperately needs some peace and a time to grieve. I will gladly do what I can.

[nostamj]

93. it was one of the hardest phone calls I've ever made

but, one of the most important too. I feel like I know Scott (a little) now. makes the loss--however distant--much more poignant and painful. she loved him. and, I'm sure, loved him enough to find the strength to help Michael this weekend.

and, I repeat, the outpouring of love and support from DU has been a huge positive even though we can't be *there* for her.

I am very proud to be part of DU today. you're amazing.

and, I'm finally, fully in tears. been too busy to cry...

[Bunny]

95. nostamj, you're a sweetheart!

Thanks for everything. :pals:

[calimary]

130. Truly. The best kind.

KICK!

[Wind Dancer]

97. nostamj,

thank you for everything. You have been amazing organizing everything so quickly and sharing a part of Michael with us. :grouphug: :cry:

[nostamj]

99. much credit goes to Amanda (vetwife)

for making a PayPal option available and to Ann Arbor Dem (for the florist connection and contacting the funeral home and church)

as for quickly, well, it's one of those days where it's good I don't have a full-time job... because this WAS a full-time job.

150+ PMs?? oh my aching wrists!

but, thanks. it would have been another dead thread without the outpouring of support from the DU family... and I'm sure it's not over yet.

[calimary]

151. Indeed, Jeff. You and Amanda both will be blessed for this.

God (or karma, or whichever Great Spirit presides over us) doesn't forget this stuff.

[Wind Dancer]

96. It's a pain that words can't begin to describe!

My heart is breaking. Amanda, so glad you both could cry on each others shoulder, DU sincerely takes care of each other.

[xchrom]

80. thank you

[G_j]

85. kick

[rbnyc]

87. Thanks so much! (nt)

[tlcandie]

91. CAme online too late to call florist today, but will make that call

tomorrow (Saturday)! Levin will be made via fax on Monday when I go to the packing store to ship something.

Just donated via paypal to Vetswife site!


Thank you all!! This just washes away so much of all the * crap going on in this world when people can pull together to help others out! :grouphug:

Nostaj :yourock: and all who helped to make this possible.. thanks so very much!


For Mari333, :loveya: :hug:


EDIT: just now realized there were two donations. I will also be donating to the Mother's against Iraq War for Mari!

Mari's words are soul-rending!!! What a talent she has and she speaks her heart so well!

Light and Love to her and all of those around her at this time!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

100. Donated $18 to United Veterans. Eighteen is symbolic in my faith,

Judaism, of life. May Scott rest in peace.

[NMDemDist2]

101. kick for Mari n/t

[peekaloo]

102. Donation made to UnitedVets.

Peace.

:hug:

[Christof]

103. I don't know Mari333...

But I do give her my condolences. :hug: I'm sorry about your loss. :(

I'll write Senator Levin to make sure her stepson stays home. I should also write that I want everyone in Iraq to come home. They don't need to be there. :(

[nostamj]

104. welcome to DU

if you'd been here longer, you'd remember Mari333's posts.

suggest you look upthread for the repost by vetwife of one of her beautful, angry rants.

on edit: it is post #72

[vetwife]

105. Yes Welcome to DU..It is the best !

[calimary]

113. Welcome to DU! A MOST worthwhile thing to nag Carl Levin about.

It's a MOST worthwhile thing to nag ALL those people in Congress - friend AND foe alike. Even our enemies need to know how many of us there really are, and what a formidable force is building against them.

[Longhorn]

106. Donation made on behalf of dear Mari

who offered me so many words of comfort and wisdom.

[nostamj]

107. please keep this kicked!

thanks! :hi:

[calimary]

123. Okay!

[Rosetta]

108. Thanks

I just donated to vetwife's website. I will call the florist and email Levin's office tomorrow. I am happy I could help somehow. Those of you that made this happen for Mari333 are very cool.

[vetwife]

109. Kick !

[nostamj]

110. welcome to DU!!

read post # 72 if you haven't read anything from Mari333 before...

[vetwife]

117. Welcome Rosetta and thanks for the offer early this AM about the

Florist in Michigan...I think that was you......Thanks and welcome to DU ! We have been so busy we are just now getting around to thanking you.

[Rosetta]

120. Thanks for the welcome

Thank you for the welcome posts. I have been reading DU for a long time, so I've followed Mari333's posts and feel like I know her.

[calimary]

114. Welcome to DU, Rosetta!

It's a pretty cool place, as I gather you've noticed. When we say you're among friends, we mean it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

111. Kick

[nostamj]

112. kick!

c'mon DU guys and gals

it doesn't matter if you can't contribute... a KICK is cool too.

[calimary]

115. Kick!

Let's keep this alive. Along with our hopes. And our sense of community.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

124. and another kick before bedtime.

:kick:

[calimary]

129. And another kick, besides.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

116. Kick. For all of ours. All. n/t

[vetwife]

118. Kick for the midnight shift......

[calimary]

121. Kick-ez vous!

[jdj]

119. Just made my paypal donation.

when I posted recently that my best friend just got notified to ship out to Kuwait in January (05) Mari replied to my post with (((hugs))).

I knew she knew how it feels, and it meant alot to me. I feel bad all I can do is a small donation, but it is the only one I've made, been working part-time,if at all, since '01. Just eeking by.

I'm so sad Mari has had to go through so much. Life is not fair.

[jdj]

122. kick

[calimary]

127. Kick!

[jdj]

125. kick

[Dem2theMax]

126. Will be doing my donating and letter writing tomorrow,

and am making sure to do a late night kick right now.

I read Mari's words a ways up from this one - tears followed.

She and her family are in my prayers.


:kick:

[calimary]

128. Kick again!

[anarchy1999]

132. Kicking one more time. Mari needs us all.

In addition, I have never been so proud to be part of such a wonderful bunch of people. Truly, wonderfully amazing. Nostamj and Amanda, you rock. Thank you so much for all you have done.

Sherry

[Hekate]

133. Check in the mail to Vetwife tomorrow for Mari

Thanks SO much for the snail-mail address. For some of us it makes all the difference.

Love to all you DUers tonight, and a kick for tomorrow.

Hekate

:grouphug:

:kick:

[slutticus]

134. Done...

Via paypal.


Damn....I'm crying my ass off reading these posts.

[mmonk]

135. Thanks

[BlackVelvetElvis]

136. PayPal keeps telling me that my city, state, etc. is wrong

Which it isn't...
I'll send a check instead!

[Blue Gardener]

137. Kick

This thread is so touching, I hope everyone reads every post. What a wonderful, caring group of people here on DU.

[calimary]

150. Kick-ola! Truly. Keep it high up.

[laylah]

138. Vetwife...

would you please pm me with mailing address? I, too, don't like to give my info on-line and have heard some not so nice things about paypal...Thanks in advance.

:hug: to Mari, Michael, and the family. What a tragic loss! And thanks to Nostamj, Vetwife, and all who organized this in such a short time...DU rocks!

Jenn

[nostamj]

139. a brief note to DU, from Mari333

received an email from Mari this morning. here is a brief message she asked me to pass on to everyone:

Please tell everyone at DU I will keep all updated on Michaels condition when he gets back, and tell them if I could, I would kiss and hug them all.

Love you all

Marianne

[vetwife]

140. Sent that snail addy Laylah and Jeff

is Marie calling Guy today? I forgot to ask her. I just got up about 30 minutes ago and was handling the contribute account. Thanks for posting this !

[nostamj]

141. actually, Guy will call her

but it is her decision as to whether she'll do the show.

yesterday she really wanted to and that's why I set it up with Guy. and, of course, Guy was happy to give her the 'forum'

but, if Michael arrives before airtime or she isn't feeling up to it, then it won't happen.

[vetwife]

142. Oh..Ok..thanks. gonna go get a cup of coffee now.....

Hey Jeff, what do you bet they send someone with him so they can make sure he goes back. That is why I am so glad that we got in touch with Senator Levin !

[nostamj]

143. guard the kid at his father's funeral....?

yeah, that sounds like bushco.

[vetwife]

144. Kick !

[nostamj]

145. amanda... how about an UPDATE thread

this is getting pretty big.

we could:

give an update on the cash donation, suggest a cut-off for donations to the flower fund (close of business today?) and report on the 'tons' of calls to Levin's office.

some of that info is in this thread but it would take a LOT of reading to find it all.

we could link this thread and the condolences thread as well...

something like:

UPDATE! | DU Outreach for Mari333 and her family

I could also be clearer about the donation options, and put it a line about contacting either of us for the snailmail to UVA.

[vetwife]

146. Good Idea Jeff...I am getting an update now, but can't count the snail

mail as I don't know the amounts. Will PM you with that info in about 5 minutes. Yeah we need to start a new thread.. Also.....give my [e-mail] out to get snail mail addy on the new thread. .....thanks...Adding up now...

[nostamj]

147. great.

I just received a heartbreaking tribute to Scott that Mari wrote this morning. I'm going to hold off on posting it until I can add a link to the new thread.

[vetwife]

148. Jeff, are you going to copy and paste this info on the new thread

on the flowers cut off and contribution link with the update of money collected?

[nostamj]

149. it's in there.

flower cut-off will be determined by Laura at the florists and the $ to-date is in there too.

[calimary]

152. Could I throw in a reminder? To CALL CARL LEVIN MORE THAN ONCE.

Sorry to yell. I wanted it to stand out a little.

It's a good strategy in ANY event, however.

You've gotta remember something: these Senators and Congresspeople have a staff. Each staff has quite a few people in it. Many of them are answering phones, since these folks do get a lot of calls from a lot of people, not just constituents. So they have to have lots of people manning the phones. THEREFORE, you can make your voice heard, and your issue look bigger, if you call more than once. You're quite likely to get a different person answering the phone each time. Not all of them ask for your name or zip code at the end of the call, some just make a note of what you called about. If, by the end of the day, they tally up all the issues and how many calls they got about each, they'll see one - in this case - about Marie Shepard and the husband she just lost, and her son Michael in Iraq who needs to come home for his father's funeral - all they'll see is THE NUMBER OF CALLS. And the bigger the number...

Anyway, you know what to do.

First. Thing. Monday. Morning.

Besides, they're among the Good Guys. And they'll need something else to focus on while the Bad Guys are at their convention.