Hey Folks —
We are really close to launching our crowd-funding, Indiegogo campaign for STRANGER AT HOME! Honest.
There’s been necessary delays to line-up everything to present you with a campaign that you will say “yes” to — “yes, I’ve gotta be involved in helping to get this film made and seen. I want to be part of making a positive difference in our veterans and their families lives.”
Truthfully, that’s exactly what happened to us when we first met Charisse Kaufman — a woman with an angel wing span that goes on for miles. You may remember her from the radio show.
To remind — Charisse is one of very few civilians who have been granted access to veterans hospitalized for post traumatic stress at Camp Pendleton. She is also the founder of Lives Of Promise, a start-up non-profit dedicated to helping veteran families. The real deal.
As one of her few co-workers says, “when the struggling wife of a veteran calls because her husband’s post traumatic stress has reared it’s terrifying head AGAIN; he’s gone missing for several days and the electric company is threatening to turn their home’s lights off, Charisse is the one who answers the phone and then actually does something to help this exhausted and frantic spouse.”
I digressed.
So, Charisse had agreed to be a guest on the radio show. As you know, we’d already done several broadcasts featuring veterans — hearing their stories of service and genuine humility about this OMG chapter in their lives.
With each of these heroes who graced our radio airwaves, there was an almost matter-of-factness about the sacrificial aspect of what they’d committed to, stepped-up for and lived through. Not an indifference, mind you, but a no-fuss acceptance of the employment description and potentially fatal, on-the-job consequences. Seriously, OMG.
And they all called me “ma’am” — off-the-air on our pre-show call and then on-the-air throughout our interview.
This “ma’am” stuff moved me for some reason. It was different than the young, twenty-something at the grocery check-out asking me “did you find everything alright, ma’am?” That annoying tag-on started to happen when I turned forty, but that’s my problem and a whole other rant on aging that has no place in this piece.
No, with these veteran guests, I felt their incredibly disciplined, hard-wired training in this “ma’am.” For them, it was about respect — respecting me. An extension of how much they respected their jobs, which was an extension of how much they respected their country. Whew.
See, I was taught manners growing-up, but man, the respect component, the why to do that (have manners) wasn’t emphasized like it is in the training of our military, which I have come to admire and yes — respect.
To over-emphasize —
It has become crucially apparent to me that practiced, mindful respect — in all ways, at all times, to ourselves and all living things — may be the way, the antidote, the cure to most of what ails us. Certainly, respect is the gateway that love can enter through. And when love is in the building — along with Elvis — miracles can happen.
Back to the story —
So, yeah, before we met Charisse, we had booked a few veterans on the radio show. It felt so right — completely in alignment with the intention of our broadcasts; promoting inspiration and showcasing those making a positive difference in the world.
Remember Jason?
He was the Marine we had on the show who, while stationed in Iraq, had been in a tank struck by lightening. He was thrown from the vehicle, suffered traumatic brain injury and was medically discharged from the service he had given his entire soul to along with seven years of young adulthood.
His entire purpose and self-identity ended just like that — as quick as a lightening strike.
We’ve remained in touch with Jason. He’s shared even more with us — a great sense of humor and wisdom in his perspective on life after the military; being in Wal-Mart versus being on the battlefield.
Coming back to the civilian world has been challenging and at times difficult for this kind and very tall fellah from South Carolina. Sometimes, one side of his body will short circuit due to the fried pathways his brain experienced and will never completely repair. His legs may just unexpectedly buckle under him while he’s giving potential clients a tour of the well-known gym he manages.
Interestingly, because of the injury, caffeine has the opposite effect on him than most of us. It calms him down and stabilizes his body and brain. Starbucks should consider giving some humanitarian thinking to their promotional campaigns — i.e., the positive effects of caffeine on our injured veterans.
Jason also struggles with post traumatic stress. Sights, sounds and smells trigger him back there, back to Iraq, as if he were suddenly in a 3D horror movie. He started down the treacherous alcohol and drug path to cope, but works diligently now to manage his thoughts and feel his feelings without self-medicating — though the demon memories and sensations, at times, can over-run without notice.
As for actually sitting in a movie theatre, he recently went to see “Lone Survivor.” He thought it was a powerfully representative film about what it’s really like serving in combat, but had a PTS episode and came out of the theatre shaking. “I respected the film, thought it was true,” he told me, “but it wasn’t a good idea that I went.”
Even re-counting this episode, Jason’s tone was matter-of-fact and unfailingly polite. I felt his fear and sadness, the forever burden on this man’s heart & psyche, all of it tucked stoically beneath that Marine Corps-trained veneer, graciously filtered through his southern gentleman’s lilt when, once again, he called me “ma’am.” My heart hurt for him.
All to say, and bringing the story full circle —
It seems we have been guided with a capital G. Clearly, albeit unconsciously, we said “yes” to making STRANGER AT HOME long before we met Charisse and began to learn, through her, about the depth and breadth of the veteran situation — especially with so many returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bottom line — it’s pretty rough times for these unbelievably courageous people and everybody who loves them.
We’re talking about epidemic proportions of post traumatic stress and even deeper moral injuries. Huge suicide numbers. Worse, there’s no real and effective processes for these service men and women to re-integrate back into civilian life — emotionally, psychologically, financially. It’s so wrong — so lacking in respect.
We can’t change the situation, but we can make a film to support change. And that’s what we’re willing to do — from fundraising the project all the way to distribution.
We really do have an amazing Indiegogo, crowd-funding campaign prepared and I can’t wait to share it with you! We’ve put together a compelling trailer and have some valuable rewards for your generous contributions.
Even more incentive — we have partnered with a fiscal sponsor, From The Heart Productions, a non-profit dedicated to supporting cause-related film projects. Any donation you do make to the campaign will be fully tax deductible.
When we launch on May 22nd — that’s a promise — I hope you’ll join us, in whatever way or amount you can to make STRANGER AT HOME a reality.
Stay tuned for coming details on the Indiegogo campaign and PLEASE start telling other people who care about this issue that they can get involved, too.
With all of my heart and gratitude,
Beth
P.S. No radio shows scheduled for a bit while we’re in campaign launch mode, but we’ll be back soon with more inspiring stories on BEING DELIBERATELY radio, and we thank you for your continued belief in the mission of our mighty podcasts!
Here’s a quick moment from the footage of our fundraising trailer for STRANGER AT HOME:
