Afghanistan Through My Eyes

How could I get a new press pass?

I contacted a friend who was on staff at the NYTimes, who had been embeded with troops in Iraq. I specifically asked him not to mention it to my daughter with whom he was friends with as I didn't want to worry her. After all I, even though I was committed to going to Afghanistan, it may prove to difficult to get to and I didn't want to alarm her.

I was hoping the NYTimes could somehow sponsor me.

He emailed me back with a treasure trove of information that included the fact that the NYTimes only sent 'Staff' writers like him to places like Irag and Afghanistan. Next, he emailed my daughter who immediately called me and aske me if I was out of my mind.

But this gave me the idea of contacting the paper I write for using a pen name. Maybe they would indemnify me, thus paving the way for a press pass.
Solares Hill

Afghanistan Through My Eyes

The first hurdle for me to go to Afghanistan is to get a press pass.

I had a press pass once. It was from CBS. During the Presidential election of 1972, when I was 14. My Mom was in charge of an election precinct. Apparently, results needed to be reported to CBS. My Mom believed that involving me would somehow make me interested in politics. For making this phone call and reporting the numbers to CBS I got this cool CBS press card, which I still have today...somewhere. It's not the kind of thing you throw out. It takes up no room and is very neat'O. In fact I carried it in my wallet until I was in my early twenties.

However, I don't think this particular press pass from 1972 will work. Especially, since it has on it in big bold letters, 1972 Election Coverage.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes

After thinking about this idea and talking it over with some friends, I decide to give it a go. But I also decide that I will just go with the flow; if it's meant to be, it will happen.

I read the embed forms and anxiety surfaces.

I am a C+ form filler outter. I actually feel form illiterate, always putting my name in the wrong place, and generally just not putting the right answers in where they go, it brings back test taking all over again. I know the answers, I just can't recall them correctly to fill in the form! It must be something spatial with the lines and the one dimension of paper and print.

There are a lot of qualifications for getting embeded with a military division during a war. Probably a good thing.

So I break the qualifications down in hurdles. Now hurdles I was good at. In fact I set a school record in high school for running the hurdles.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - NMMI

Going to Afghanistan to hug soldiers seemed like a 'great' idea.

I've always had a love affair with soldiers since I visited my brothers at NMMI, New Mexico Military Institute. So much so that I wanted to attend...my father and brothers laughed at me. It was 1962 and girls were not allowed at NMMI, it was a 'boy's club'. This was my first experience with segregation. I did not like it even then as four-years old.

This was my opportunity. This was an adventure.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes

The idea is to go to Afghanistan to hug soldiers.

Is this crazy?

I immediately called a good friend of mine who happens to be a Viet Nam vet. He thought it was a great idea! "Baby, that's a great idea!" He went on to send me a link to embed!
I ran it by my daughter and her husband and they thought it was cool. "That's a cool idea Mom."

I was a little surprised at how they just went along with it, but then again they know me well and know that if they objected it would make me want to do it even more. Saying 'no' to me is like throwing gasoline on a fire.

Mom hugs for soldiers

One day while sitting around and feeling sorry for myself I asked myself what could I do to make a difference. What would I like to do to make a difference specifically.

Recently a friend of my daughter's asked if she could come over and I could give her a Mom hug. She missed her Mom and I was the only Mom she knew around. I myself would like a Mom hug, but my Mom has passed away, but I knew what she meant. There is something very special about Mom hugs. I got an idea.

I decided that I would go to Afghanistan and give soldier's Mom hugs.
This is how it began.