Thank you, soldiers.

My connection from Alaska to Philly was in Salt Lake City. Perhaps my favorite winter destination, the airport is within a stones throw of the mountains that have some of the best snow on earth. I'm starting to think ahead to winter now. It's not that I don't like fall, It's my second favorite season of the year. I love the trips to the lake when the leaves are changing, stopping at the cider mill for some apple cider, maple syrup, fresh rubharb pie, pumpkin and squash, getting out in the kayak or canoe, coming back and sitting by the fire with a book or a college football game. Just one week of that does so much for me. But, wintertime brings the snow and skiing and ignites the undying passion that keeps me warm and rosy. It's hard not to look forward to that.

I sat on the plane from SLC to Philly and noticed some guys with camo bags boarding. They looked about 18. One guy sat next to me, he raised his bag into the overhead compartment and some sand fell out of his bag and onto my seat. "Sorry, Sir" he said.

"No problem" I replied. "Are you a marine?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where you comin from?" I asked.

"California, sir. We've been training in the desert. Right now we have a week off to see our families in Philly, then we go straight to Iraq."

"Wow." I've met people that have gone to Iraq, and they looked like serious soldiers. This kid was a serious soldier, but he had a baby face and could have passed for a high school student.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said.

We talked further about the desert climate and his younger brother who lent him the WWF wrestling game on his Gameboy. I tried to run some old school wrestler names by him, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat, none of which he recognized. "Maybe he's not so young, maybe I'm just getting old," I thought. He was a quiet kid and slept most of the flight.

When we landed in Philly, he woke up. As we pulled up to the gate I asked him, "Hey, what's your name?"

"My name is Joe."

I extended my hand, "Thank you for serving, Joe. We really appreciate it. Good luck in Iraq."

"Thank you."

The flight attendant then announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have some Marines from the 315th brigade on board. They are visiting their families before being deployed for Iraq. Please remain seated so that the marines can exit the plane and get to their families."

I was now among several passengers turning and thanking the marines for their service and wishing them well. Everyone was applauding as they walked off the plane. It was like the commercial of troops walking through the airport and being saluted and applauded by passengers. I reckon some people were getting choked up, because I definitely was.

I try to lay a foundation in my life of living in the present moment. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The 'zen' in front of my name is a helpful reminder. The blog helps me express those moments. Before I got onto this plane, I was thinking ahead to winter. I don't know for sure, but I would bet that none of the boys on the plane with me were thinking past the precious week ahead with their families.

All of us look ahead, sometimes ignoring what is in front of us. A friend who needs something, a beautiful sky, a simple request from a loved one, a chance to do something unique. Sometimes we bitch about the things in front of us. The FAA regulations, the IRS, politics....etc. It's hard to appreciate how fortunate we are. Right now there are men and women in the desert doing their jobs and risking their lives. I don't think that any one of them would bemoan the thought of one day coming back to a place where they will be put on hold by Verizon for 30 minutes. This fall, I plan on enjoying the moment. The cider, the fresh crisp air and the beautiful leaves. I know somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistan, there is a soldier who would love to do the same.