The Box (Flash Fiction)

It starts out as a flat piece of cardboard, I add some tape to make it hold its shape.

Sometimes I'll decorate the inside as if it were an extra hug.

I then pick out the items to fill the void. Each item is special and filled with love and joy. I place them in the box with care. I make sure the box is full with no room to spare. Once I think its full I close it and give it a shake. Then comes the smaller things. Each is like a hug, I want to show you my love how much I care.

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How I pack care packages…

I never really thought about how I do it until at an FRG meeting several spouses had questions. So I decided it was time to do a step by step blog post about care packages.

Step 1 shopping:

  • Keep weather in mind (does that soldier really want hot chocolate in 110 degree heat)
  • Chocolate is out in lots of locations, exceptions: Nutella, M&M’s, chocolate chip cookies (I’ll explain how to pack this stuff later)
  • If it won’t fit in a gallon ziplock bag it’s too big. (You husbands forgotten running shoes are an exception)
  • I often take a large flat rate with me to the store if I’m doing a theme box.

Step 2 Packing Supplies

  • The wonderful USPS will give you flat rate boxes for free, they’ll even bring them to your door.
  • I also keep the clear customs form holders on hand for free from the USPS
  • Tape lots of packing tape (You’ll be amazed how much you will use.)

Step 3 Packing the box

  • DO NOT mix toiletries and food in one box!!!
    • The strong scents of soap, deodorant etc can and often does bleed over into the food items.
    • You can throw in a chapstick or toothbrush but if it doesn’t go in or on your mouth don’t put it with food
  •  Ziplock bags are everyones friend, anything liquid or gooey goes in one. You bag that lotion, that mouthwash and that shelf stable milk. When in short bag it, it saves trouble later.
  • Those Gorillas at the zoo, yeah you’ve seen them. Plan on them handling your package at some point.
    • Glass is always a tough thing to send, I avoid it at almost all costs.
  • Don’t put an heirloom in the box, trust me that’s the box that will get lost.
  • If it won’t fit in a large flat rate does the soldier really need it?
    • This isn’t to say only use those boxes just if an individual item won’t fit in a large flat rate box think twice.
      • I do know of an exception where a small pool was sent to soldiers as part of a pool party, but exceptions are rare.
  • I have everything in my box and it’s not full
    • Switch to a smaller box, a medium packed full is better than a large one that is  not full with items getting damaged.

A box of snacks and things to eat.

  • What 3 things do you really want to get in the box?
    • Those go in first. (That bag of chips for chips and salsa may not arrive in the same condition if you put the salsa in the box with it. Remember the Gorilla?)
    • Let’s start our box with beef Jerky, nope it doesn’t need a ziplock
    • Then we add in some small packages of sunflower seeds
    • ohh he wanted a book of crosswords
    • some granola bars
    • Okay now I add in some pouches of tuna
      • That tuna needs some mayonnaise, don’t just grab a jar, get packets.
      • Yes, packets of condiments are great to add to care packages.
        • Of course they go in a ziplock bag! (Mr or Mrs Gorilla doesn’t need it)
    • Okay once you have everything in the box close it up, don’t tape it closed just close it and shake it.
      • Yes, shake that box, if you hear stuff moving I now add in candy or other small items to stop the rattling.
      • Once you have enough stuff in there so it no longer rattles you can tape it closed.
  • COVER EVERY SEAM!!!
    • No not the ones that are already sealed but the ones that are there for you to tape closed, cover them in at least one if not more of strong packing tape.
      • Soldiers have sharp objects they’ll get into it don’t worry about that.

A box of toiletries and other items

  • Get out the gallon ziplock before you start.
    • Remember if it won’t fit in the gallon ziplock I think it’s too big to ship.
  • Almost everything in this box will be in a ziplock
  • The shampoo
  • Body wash (Bar soap gets sand embedded in it. Who wants to wash with sandy soap?)
    • Most soldiers prefer the body wash
  • Aerosols can be tricky I skip them unless I must send deodorant (It gets bagged and taped closed)
  • They do sell shave gel in tubes, they’re smaller and travel better.
  • For female soldiers feminine supplies are amazing things, there’s often a small selection if any available.
  • Chapstick, even if they don’t use it at home send it. The wind will dry out their lips trust me they’ll be looking for it at some point.
  • Lotion, again even if they don’t use it at home if they are in an arid location they will appreciate it.
  • Baby wipes, yes I said baby wipes. Even soldiers who are not in a field location like them. They still get sweaty and grimy, if they are on a 24 hour shift a few wipes can help them freshen up part way through their day. I send smaller packages but more of them (about 70 wipes per pack so they don’t dry out in the arid weather).
  • Razors, my husband likes the gillette proglide, you can send any decent twin or more blade razor.
  • Women’s razors, a rare find on a deployment especially the good ones.
  • Q-tips tons of uses for these
  • Socks, feet get sweaty in those boots, the sand found at some locations wears things out faster so  don’t count on the ones he took with him when he deployed to last the year

Okay enough of that again don’t forget the gorilla and the shake test, if everything liquid is bagged and there’s no glass you should be fine.

Other things to make them smile…

  • Air fresheners –  I use ones made for cars (not vent clips the kind that sit there in a can)
  • Candles I don’t send these, fire hazard
  • Dryer sheets, they can add them to their drawer, duffle ruck or closet. I always suggest they tuck one in their pillow case.
  • Books, paperbacks preferred here (they fit better in cargo pockets and are lighter in general)
  • Magazines (NO PORN) grab the latest issue of a car magazine, or something. I tend to send pencil puzzles and crossword books.
  • Water guns and water balloons, they are a huge hit in arid hot climates
  • Games and small toys, think travel sized that will fit in a cargo pocket or card games like uno.

I hate the line at the post office (USPS can be good)

  • I have a USPS.COM account, it’s free to setup
  • I pay online, you also get a discount for doing that.
  • It walks me through the customs form
  • I print it all out
  • I schedule a pickup, yes USPS will pickup the packages at your house for free.
  • Don’t forget to order your care package supplies while you are there.
    • I keep the following on hand
      • Small Flat rate boxes (Currently $5.25 to send if paid online)
      • Medium Flat rate boxes (Currently $11.30 paid online)
      • Large Flat rate boxes (Currently $13.80 paid online)
      • Customs forms holders, yep free from USPS
      • Priority mail address labels

This is not an all inclusive guide but should give you a good start. As long as you keep sending stuff and keep the strong scents away from the food it should all work out.

I’ll cover shipping baked goods and other items in a another post. This means if you follow my blog you won’t miss out on it.

Be Respectful

The Flag of this great nation

Every night the citizens of this great country sleep undisturbed because others are standing guard. Less than 10% of this nation has served in the military. Also these days it seems as if being a police officer is a bad thing. Both the military and police officers have tough jobs, show them the support and respect they deserve.

I’d like to thank all those who protect and serve us be they police, fire, emergency medical, or military.

My bucket list

it seems that this time of year brings up two common topics of conversation. Resolutions and bucket lists. Personally I gave up on the resolution angle years ago. I was chatting with my in-laws and the topic of bucket lists came up. I decided to sit down and give it some serious thought.

  • I want to meet several @Foxnews personalities, some of them are contributors  others are hosts.
    • @SeanHannity
    • @Greta
    • Dr Charles Krauthammer
    • The Crew from @TheFive
    • Sheppard Smith

These are the names that come to mind at the moment. I’m a news junkie so I think I’d have a blast meeting them and seeing what goes on behind the scenes.

  • I want to see the Philadelphia Mummers Parade
    • I’ve wanted to see this parade in person for as long as I can remember.

I grew up in the area and love the parade even though I can only watch it online now.

  • Lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington
  • See the changing of the guard 150 times.
    • I’ve already seen it 114 times.

This is one of my favorite places on earth. I can stay at the tomb for hours the site is just awe inspiring as are the members of the old guard who watch over the tomb 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

  • Become a published author
    • In my dreams a published author with an agent

I love writing, I want to put in the effort to make this a reality. No one can hand this to me, but they can support and encourage me. I do enjoy my blog and twitter followers.

I’m saving that for ….

I was looking through a number of photos and items from my mom’s old house. My mother passed away a few years ago. Many of the items I found were still brand new in the packaging. She was always saving it for something special. Well I’ve decided that if I buy something for a special occasion that it had better have a date.

I have been a Flybaby that’s a follower of Flylady for over a decade. I have decluttered many times only to regather some but not all of what I rid myself of. So it is getting progressively better, but I gasped when I found a shirt I’d been saving that was ruined and it still had the tags on it.

Flylady teaches us that if you don’t love it don’t keep it, set it free to bless someone else. So I’ve decided to make that my focus with a twist. If I buy it have a date for which it is being used, if I can’t come up with a  date or event don’t buy it.

I have heard tell of many stories where a loved one passes away and upon going through their things they find several that were never used. I don’t want to be that statistic. I don’t need an event to use a pretty teacup, any day can be made special if I’m wearing the shirt with the rhinestones. Is there a rule that says I can’t use a table cloth on a Thursday? Since I don’t think any of these are true I’m going to free myself up to use those special items or set them free to bless someone else.

A note about flylady. It is a whole life organizational system. It teaches you how to set your life up for success. It helps you break down even the largest of tasks into 15 minutes sized chunks and how to spend an extra two minutes to keep your bathroom clean. It wont tell you how to get rid of a stain, it will teach you how not to have a kitchen full of dirty dishes. It will let you have friends and family over even on the spur of the moment.

I could go on for pages explaining how Flylady has changed my life, but I won’t, at least not on this post. All I can say is I went from the worst housekeeper / manager ever to company ready on 5 minutes notice. No it didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen. Seriously give it a try, they even have tips for getting kids and how to keep their rooms from being the land of the lost.