About Me

“Mission Complete”

By

Pamela Ebel

“May I have your attention please? Flight 452 from Shreveport to New Orleans via Baton Rouge is now boarding at gate 2B. Please have your boarding pass ready for the gate attendant, have a good flight and from your ground crew have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Sol Sibelsky found his seat, took out his journal, calendar and pen, opened his laptop, and settled in for the short ride. The calendar told what a busy two weeks he’d just finished in Pittsburg. From his installation into the Shriners at the Syria Mosque to helping save the Shriners’ Pittsburg Circus by bringing the Turner’s Training Facility circus animals to the 2019 pre-thanksgiving event Sol hadn’t much time to consider the coming Christmas Holidays or his career change decision. 

 rs. They will travel the country representing Shriners International to continue the work to support Shriners Children’s Hospitals. including Elvira, the Elephant, Poodles the Pig and Mai iit’ soh, the wolf, were safely back in their home in New Orleans. Sol’s rehab patient, ten-yea r-old Jeffery Carter, would spend the Christmas holidays at the Turners’ training facility working with the gymnasts and was staying with the Sibelskys . 

Sol had taken time in Pittsburg to get reacquainted with his graduate school friend Sally Carson. She had hoped for more than a platonic relationship. Since Sol had originally intended to be posted to a rehab clinic abroad, he didn’t want the complication of a long-distance relationship. 

Even the change of heart and mind that led to his current employment in Shreveport, Louisiana, proved problematic. Sally had felt the need to stay in Pittsburg to be near her recently widowed mother. and she didn’t want to leave her alone. Sol leaned back into his seat, closed his eyes, and replayed their last conversation.

“I was completely flabbergasted when Mom announced six months ago that she wasn’t happy in her house anymore. Said there were too many memories of daddy and while she loved him, she was ready to get back to living her own life. Then she bought a condo in a retirement village in Florida and said if I didn’t want the house she was selling it. Then ‘poof’ she was gone. 

And yesterday she called to tell me she has met a wonderful man, and they are planning to marry in the summer. So now I’m the one floundering. There were a lot of places I could have gone to practice, but I wanted to help children and the Shriners’ connection here in Pittsburg was perfect because of mom.”

“And now Sally? Why isn’t it perfect anymore? You still love the work and you’re good at it.”

“Because I’m not like you. I can’t just work all the time. I need people to see and places to go after work. I did that with Mom mostly. I just let everyone else slip away and now I really don’t think this place is right for me anymore.”

She looked out the window of the restaurant at the streets changing from Thanksgiving to Christmas finery. An unexpected storm the night before left the streets with a light dusting of snow. 

Sol looked at Sally and realized they’d shared a great deal during their graduate studies together and he had let it all slip away for work. He had his career, his family, and the Turners when he could get to New Orleans from Shreveport. Lately he’d felt at loose ends. Like Sally he was missing something and he began to wonder if it was sitting across the table from him. So, they talked long into the night and decided to both consider a change of place, space, and pace.

Opening his eyes and computer, Sol looked at the three emails that were about to change his life. 

The first was from the Shriner’s Rehab Clinic in Shreveport. Dr. Richter had agreed to his request for a leave of absence for six months and he had also agreed to send a letter of recommendation to the Veterans Hospital in New Orleans. 

The second was from John May at the Turners’ Training Circus confirming their earlier discussion. He had talked with Sol when he brought the performers to Pittsburg for the Shrine Circus and was quite excited to share some news.

“I’m telling you Sol. This is a chance of a lifetime for you. I can feel it in my heart. Dr. Bradford at the VA called a month ago. He’s creating a new rehab program for Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans He wants to get those who are able to do something besides walk and swim and go to meetings on PTSD. Says they need a mission, just like when they were in the field. He and I’ve created a program where they’ll come and work with the circus. Those physically capable will learn gymnastics. Those who aren’t mobile enough will learn to be spotters and trainers eventually. And they’ll all work with the animals and travel with us when we are on the road. There is a large warehouse next to ours and we have looked into buying it to offer housing for those vets that need a safe harbor for a while. But we need the skills of a Turner that’s a rehab specialist. And son you’re it.”

The third email was from Dr. Brewster, his graduate professor at the Pittsburg Rehab Clinic, who agreed that the task would be a good fit for Sol. 

“You’re growing stale where you are Sol. I can hear it in your voice. There aren’t enough kids with gymnastics needs in the hospital system. These Vets have a plethora of problems, but they also have good physical training and field time so the noise and pressure of the circus can be handled as they work through the PTSD. I think you should consider it and I will be glad to give you a recommendation. Take a limited leave of absence. If it doesn’t work, you can go back to Shreveport.”

Finally, after he got the okay from Shriners’ Shreveport for the leave of absence, he called Sally in Pittsburg and told her his decision.

“I am really excited about this opportunity Sally. But I’ve thought about what you said the last time we met. You’re right that I’ve always thought about work first and I don’t want to be that guy anymore. I took the liberty of asking Dr. Brewster to call Children’s Hospital in New Orleans and they have an opening that would be perfect for you. I’m hoping you’ll consider a change too. What would you think about taking a leave of absence and a leap of faith and joining me in a new adventure in ‘The City that Care Forgot’?”

Sally looked out the window of the childhood house that her mom had just sold at the snow that was beginning to come down again. People were bundled up and looked like a picture from Currie and Ives.

“I’ve seen a lifetime’s worth of Currie and Ives Christmases. I think one where I might be able to wear shorts at some point in the season would be a definite change of pace. Still, following you after all of this time apart would definitely require a leap of faith.”

“Well, you would take it with the right man Sally. After all I am a Turner.”

“The captain has turned on the ‘fasten seat belt sign’ indicating our initial descent into New Orleans. Please raise your seats to an upright position, put your tray tables away and be sure your seat belt is fastened. It has been our pleasure to serve you. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Two days later Sol started working at the training facility. The place had been abuzz with activity as an area was retrofitted to handle the specialized work with the Vets. Many had already appeared to help and the camaraderie was palpable.

Sally arrived a week after Sol and rented an apartment near Children’s Hospital. She spent her free time at Turners’ headquarters getting to know everyone and working out rehab plans based on patient files. In the evenings she and Sol visited with his parents or toured the city. Sally enjoyed the fact that she didn’t have to pull out snow boots and a shovel to get around.

This particular morning Sol arrived at 6:30 and she appeared around half an hour later. The first full complement of Veterans to enter the program were due at 9:00 a.m. John May had called everyone together for a final prep meeting.

“There is one addition to the program that I hadn’t mentioned because we weren’t sure it would go through. As you know the VA has its’ own service animal program that they use with returning Vets. But it’s limited and they don’t have the rehab system we plan to set up. So, they offered to send a team of service dogs to work with us.”

May was interrupted as the first groups of Vets poured in the door and stopped in wonder at the three rings, the gymnasts and acrobats working out over their heads and around them. The staff rose to greet them and there was a great deal of conversation and looks of wonder. 

Then the door opened again and two Marines in dress blues entered. Between them walked a Golden Lab with his service gear on. Behind him walked four German Shepherds similarly attired. The group approached Sol, Sally, John May, and the group of Veterans who all came to attention. 

One of the Marine’s stepped forward and saluted everyone.

“Sir, Service Animal platoon 241 reporting for duty. I have their orders and the paperwork that you will need in this envelope. But allow me to introduce the group leader of this platoon.”

With that the sergeant turned to the Labrador and saluted. “Lieutenant I am turning the command of this platoon over to you. Your orders.”

He handed the envelope to the dog who took it in his teeth and moved forward looking from one person to another and finally stepped up to Sol. Taking the envelope Sol read it silently and Sally could see tears in his eyes. Then he read aloud:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present my credentials. I am Sully, service dog to Veterans in need of assistance. My platoon and I have served with many Veterans, and we are pleased to do so now. We serve until no longer needed. I had the honor of serving President George H W Bush until he was called and moved on last year. We service animals live by one rule ‘We stay until Mission Complete.’”

As everyone stared at Sully a loud trumpeting noise rose, and Elvira pushed her way through the crowd. Sully looked up at her and she smiled, raised her trunk, and saluted.

Sol nodded “Let’s get to work!”