Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really...To The Young Women Of The Waterford Ward
Posted by Erik Rupard on August 8th, 2008
To my friends (and nieces) in the Waterford, Connecticut Young Women’s Program (and your leaders):
Yesterday was kind of a “blah” day in our clinic. It was stiflingly hot outside, the flow of patients was slower-than-usual (often happens when it is really hot out—even the sick people don’t want to leave the air-conditioning to get seen), and there was just not a whole lot going on.
At around 3:30 PM, we sent a medic out to pick up the mail. When he returned to clinic at 4:15, he looked pretty glum, as he brought in four priority mail boxes, and not much else. A few of the medics got up when he walked through the door, but he shooed them off, saying “don’t bother; it’s all for MAJ Rupard.” I looked at the return addresses, and knew right away that the boxes were from you, and were not just for me, but for everyone. When I explained this, everyone got pretty excited again, and we gathered around the boxes and opened them, one-by-one.
Some of the great things in the boxes included:
- drink mixes by crystal light (and other brands)
- lots of great books for our clinic library, including a couple of my all-time favorites (”Holes”!!)
- Quaker Granola Bars
- Peanut M&Ms
- Peanut Butter M&Ms (woo-hoo!)
- kudos bars
- gum
- Chips Ahoy cookies
- and a lot of other good stuff
In short, the boxes were packed with sugary (and sugar-free) goodness. By far, my favorite thing were the letters, though, which are so sweet and heartfelt.
So, to the young women of the Waterford Ward, and to your adult leaders, please accept a grateful “Thank You” from me, the medics, and the patients of the 581st Troop Medical Clinic in Al Asad, Iraq. Your generosity and kindness has touched many lives. There are a large number of soldiers and Marines out here who rarely or never receive packages from home, and the efforts of people like you go a long way toward making deployed life just a bit nicer for all of us.
Your brother,
MAJ Erik J. Rupard, MD
Medical Officer-In-Charge
Troop Medical Clinic
Al Asad, IQ
August 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
14 days till dad comes home!
August 10th, 2008 at 11:42 am
A heart-felt thanks to the Tompkins family in CT for organizing/heading up that great food/fun/entertainment drive for my husband among others in need over there in Al Asad. We Rupard girls in Evans, GA really appreciate all of the goodies EVERYONE has continually bestowed upon him during what seemed like an eternal deployment; it was such an amazing outpouring of kindness.
We are so excited to have our wonderful husband/dad back home with us in under 2 weeks. He and his infectious spirit have been sorely missed around here!
I know that Erik will be blogging until he leaves in nine days but I am sending my girls off to school tomorrow and am finally digging into this house so that Erik’s closet, the attic, the yard, the garage etc. etc…has some semblance of order.
If everyone would just remember to pray for a safe, uneventful flight home for Erik, that would be highly valued and appreciated!
Thanks again from myself and our girls for any who read, commented, joked around, shipped goodies and music, wished him well, filled in the blank spots of our needs while he was gone, and those who will be praying for his safe arrival home.
Much love, Lorri-sue.
August 10th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Very nice note to the YW, Erik. We will ask the Bp to read it from the stand, next Sunday. The YW were excited to make a contribution to the clinic and they put forth some good effort to get it done. They and your crew deserve kudos and recognition for their service.
August 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
To Maddy, Drew and Maya (three of my most favorite people): Best wishes to you three lovelies as you start another delightful school year, filled with those events that alter and illuminate your times. (I borrowed that from Walter Cronkite.)
It seems to me that everything is coming up roses for you three: Dad’s about to return, another fabulous school year is about to start and Gram and I fervently hope that you will come and see us after you wear out your father.
And, among your greatest blessings is your dear mother who has been everything to you during these past six months. What sacrifice, strength and courage!
We honor her and you for doing your part to do your duty!
We send warmest good wishes for a very successful year and wish we were there to see you off! Old Lyme Gram and Gramps
August 10th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Thanks dad. You are so sweet; actually since they are older, they pitched in a lot and have helped out just as their daddy asked them to. (There was only one occassion during these past 6 months where I had to gather everyone around the computer and send an SOS to Erik that we desperately needed a family conference.) Ahhh Skype!!!
They truly kept me smiling while I horribly missed the man who keeps me laughing!!
Thank you for your visit this spring; the support was wonderful.
August 10th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hey grandpa, thank you so much for your message. We are eagerly awaiting that day when our dad returns, and it is a great thing to look forward to!
We love our mom and have seen her work so hard during these 6 months.
Thanks for your note, We miss living (slightly) closer to you and we really hope to visit again or vice versa.
love, maddy