Stories about coping both hit and missed

As I was recently channel-surfing, I landed, as I often do, on our local PBS station and found myself watching a "Frontline" documentary on how the middle class is coping with economic uncertainty.

But there is no uncertainty. It's a fact the economy went south a long time ago. Members of the middle class do not need a documentary on how we are coping. We are living it.

Now for the next documentary. It was one well worth watching. It was called "Tattooed Under Fire," and it was about U.S. soldiers going off to war in Iraq and the tattoos they got. The stories told by the men and woman who have served and still are serving our country were not varnished in any way. The trials and hardships they faced make all that I have been through look like a walk in the park.

So I thank all who have served and are serving now. Hearing their stories has shown me I too can carry on.

DARRYL MAPLE

Fisher