Thank You Notes & Emails

My grandmother had told me last week that a letter was sent to my attention, but to her house (in NY). It did not have a return address on it and she refused to open it herself since it was not "hers", so she mailed to out to me. When I finally checked my PO Box after a week, I saw the letter she was talking about. Of course she couldn't just forward me the note, she also had to include an Anniversary card for Jeff and I along with $20 haha...

I was surprised to see that the note was actually written by Grandpa's doctor, Dr. Densmore, thanking me for the coffee care package I had sent up a few weeks ago. I kind of thought that if I received anything, it would be just a generic, typed thank you note or something. In talking with my dad last night about it, I learned that a good friend of my grandparents has also been going to Dr. Densmore for treatment. He isn't sure what got them on the conversation, but their friend came back and told Grandma that the Dr. just went on and on about my grandparents, the package I had sent up and said that most of their visit was spent talking about that...I thought that was pretty awesome and hope the patients there are enjoying it! So, here is the note:

I also woke up this morning, checked my emails and saw that I had received one from "Chad Stephens" with the subject reading "Army care packages". I immediately opened it because we had just sent out a ton of stuff to a troop overseas in Afghanistan. Glad I did because it totally made my morning!! This is what the email read:

"Hello Ashley Flanagan,

I am PFC Michael C. Stephens. Obviously, seeing as how you have sent us packages, you know that I am deployed in Gardez, Afghanistan. I am 30 years old myself, I read your letter that said that you were turning 30 soon, and I was born and raised in Douglasville, GA. So, I know exactly where Holly Springs is, in fact, I have done quite a bit of work in that area. See, I used to work for a general contracting company out of Norcross that specialized in building fuel centers. The name was Betterton Construction Co. and I worked there for a little over 8 years.

I am sure that you have experienced the economic roller coaster that the construction industry has gone through the past few years. So, it is needless to say that I joined the military as late in life as I did in an effort to protect my family. Anyway, I have been in the Army for 19 months now and so far it has been really great for my family. We are on an upward track for the first time since my wife and I met. Well, that’s how we ended up just on the other side of the state from where we started and living on base at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga.

My wife’s name is Jessica and we have been married for 3 years now but we have been together for going on 6 years. We have a daughter whose name is Lillian Sistine and she will be 2 years on the 23^rdof this month. I guess I must mention our first baby; my wife would be disappointed if I didn’t, his name is Noah and he is a 110 lb Boxer/American bulldog mix. Lol

So, now I find myself in a place that I never dreamed. I will be honest, as one Georgian to another, the weather in the place that I am at is really great! We are nearly 8,000 feet in elevation so its stays relatively cool here and the humidity in most of Afghanistan is really low. That’s right, I know what it’s like in Georgia this time of year and I will tell you that the humidity is the only thing that I don’t miss! 

Finally, I will get to the point of this letter. We all really appreciate the care packages that you have sent. It is hard for people that have not been away for any length of time to understand how important mail is to us. It’s not just soldiers either. We have a number of civilian contractors that work alongside us and they love mail day just as much. It means a lot to us when our families and friends send us things. It’s a tangible link back home. Even though it’s usually just simple things that we need occasionally, it’s kind of like a hug or a kiss. When strangers do it though, it is a whole other thing. Our families love us and our friends support us because of our connection in their lives. But, a stranger showing as much support as you have, well, it is more than I have the words to describe.

I know I speak for all of us here that have received gift from your care packages when I say; Thank you for your support, your thoughts and prayers, and thank you for your compassion. We all wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. Lastly, we are sorry for the loss of your grandfather, but, if the memory of him is what prompted you to do the good things that you have done since his passing, well, he must have been a good man indeed.
 

Thank you again,

PFC Michael C. Stephens and all of us here at FOB Gardez"

Pretty awesome letter right there and everyone at work loved it!