Memorial Day 2013

This Memorial Day finds me a bit more contemplative that usual. I think it might have something to do with the fact that my oldest son is currently deployed to Afghanistan. While Memorial Day is not for our current Veterans, but rather for those who have fallen, his being over there brings it all closer to home for me. Earlier this week he posted an announcement regarding five young soldiers from Fort Bliss who were killed, not too far from where Trey is stationed. My heart hurts for those soldiers' families, but when I think about how it could have just as easily been Trey, it scares me to death. Fortunately and thankfully, Trey's tour is just about over, but he will be over there for a few more weeks. Please join me in praying for his safety as well as for the safety of all of our American soldiers. Not all of them will come home.

I talked to Trey today. He's been in Afghanistan for a little over two months now. That doesn't sound like that long, but it seems like at least a half a year. I live in this great state called Denial. In my mind, when I picture him over there, he's always safe, smiling, it's always sunny, and he's never afraid. Generally, he's handing pieces of candy to small children. A sweet picture. Denial is like that. It exudes a shimmering shadow of peace, and I've settled in and made myself quite at home - but sometimes I venture out-of-state. I asked him today if he's seen any gunfire over there, and I caught him off guard by asking such a blunt, direct question, and he stammered, and I knew that, yes, he had...though he said, "Not directly." Whatever...indirectly...what the hell does that mean? If it had been directly, he'd be dead. And then I realize...he's not playing war, he's in a war-zone...my son...my baby boy, at war...oh well...I'm going home now...to the Great State of Denial.