tofu2u2

I had to transport the ashes of our friend to a attend their memorial service in another state and I had to fly with the container of ashes. I was very nervous about how TSA would respond and treat me as well as how they would handle the ashes. Obviously, I didn't want to put the container of ashes into a checked bag so I carried them with me.

Before the memorial service, one of the adult children requested that some of the deceased ashes be held back so he could take the remaining ashes to the fishing hole where his father (the deceased) taught him & his brother how to fish. However, they were too broken up to handle the ashes at that point in their lives so I had to fly home with some of the ashes.

The TSA agents on both check ins were so nice and very respectful of my friends remains. I was so grateful that they handled the scan quickly, quietly and with respect for the contents of the box that I carried the remains in, it meant so much to me.

With all the complaints that you all get for doing such a difficult job every day, I really want to say thank you for doing some things so well.

In the 36 minute video about the bombing at al-Bara (sp?), there was a man who made a speach (he opened the van door to show where wounded people had been bleeding) about how he was going to take revenge on the Alawites. Is this conflict about personal enmities that are being acted out or is it a political conflict?

Thank you for the video about the bombing at al-Bara. I know some people who are calling for revolution in the good ol' USA. i am going to send them your al-Bara video because it really shows how awful the aftermath of violence on such a massive scale really is for the ordinary people who are affected by the fighting. The scences you filmed could have been people in the London Blitzkreg or the Vietnam War. What you showed was the futility of the violence, how individuals are ground up like paper in a shredder, nothing noble at all about it. And for a political cause? What a waste! And those houses (in al-Bara) looked like they were made of some fairly substantial masonry, that must have been some fairly large ordinance that was dropped on ordinary homes and shops. When these events were happening, how did you stifle your immediate feelings so you could keep on working rather than run for cover?

You did a great public service by staying to film there, it must have been so scary at the time. Did the feelings of fear or numbness come back again when you were editing the video?

Thank you for answering. This AMA is intrigueing. Not that it matters but I'm a woman, pushing 60 years old. As such, I have to ask: what has YOUR family's reaction been about your work? I bet your parents were holding back the bile from fear when they saw this video of al-Bara.

Yes, it's a time honored tradition in my family too.