"Thank you for your service, sir"

That was the greeting that came from the car next to me while I waited at a stop light. The driver had taken notice of the Marine flag on my recumbent trike.

I'm always a little flummoxed about how to respond when people tell me this. I don't have a stock response or ready reply. I think some of that comes from the feeling that far too many people don't really mean it. It's fashionable to say. Almost a reflex like saying "bless you" when someone sneezes.

I realize that many do believe in what they're saying and probably have some sense of the sacrifice it took to serve.  In this case I think he meant it. He took the time to roll down his window on a cold, rainy day to thank me. I gave him a hearty thumbs up and big smile. Then the light turned green and we went on our way.