Just before Christmas of 2009 a snowstorm rolled out of the south, right through Plainsboro, up the coast and into New England. The snow was cold and bright at first but with a shovel in your hands you warm up fast. I dug my truck out and then my driveway.
After freeing myself I figured I would drive over to my folks’ house to lend a hand. Just down the road from my house on the other side of the railroad tracks I saw a lady digging out the end of her driveway. The plows had pushed the snow pretty high and her car was right under a pile of snow. The car was half in the driveway and half in the ditch. She had come in late, slid, and got stuck.
I rolled down the windows of the truck and said to her, I’ve got a shovel in the back, do you need a hand?
That would be great, she said. My back is killing me. Then she said that she had called AAA but they told her they would pull her car out but they don’t shovel. We shoveled out the car and the end of the driveway. But the car was stuck good and would need a tow truck to free it.
We got to talking and I said to her, well, if you had to get stuck it’s a good thing you got stuck at the end of your driveway. You could be out on a highway somewhere.
She replied: That is exactly what happened to my son. He is in the Army, stationed in Tennessee, and he got caught up in this storm and spent the night on the side of the highway.
I said, oh, Tennessee, that’s Fort Campbell. My younger brother was stationed there are a few years back.
She said, that’s right, Fort Campbell, and then continued: My son should be getting home for Christmas leave sometime today. Then he has to get back to camp because his whole unit is deploying to Afghanistan.
Then she said, thank you so much for the help. Now tell me where you live because I’m going to have to send some money your way.
I told her I don’t want any money. All I want is your son to come home safe and sound, that is payment enough. And anyway we’re neighbors. I gave her a Merry Christmas and a wave and took off.
My older brother came home from a deployment to Iraq last year. This Christmas when the family is gathered around the feast, holding hands and thinking about what they want, I know what I’m going to be thinking about. I want all of our neighbors to come back to the safety of home. They don’t all have to come back to Plainsboro. They can go to military bases in Germany, England, Italy, Japan, Korea, Panama, or Fort Campbell.
This Christmas that is what I want, that is what I’ll be thinking about. I want all of our neighbors to come home.
Bill Keller
18 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro
