Letter from a SparkPeople friend about her son. This brings it closer to home.
She is the first person I've known 'personally' to have this happen to them. I feel for her family. I'm hoping to get some information when he's deployed and going to try to send him a care package. It's not much, but it's all I can think of:
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There are few times when I am at a loss for words (ok, those of you who know me can vouch for that already). But I am right now.
Received the letter from my son that we'd been waiting for since our conversation with him on Saturday. He alluded on Saturday to the fact that he had his orders but couldn't discuss them over the phone. Ok, Mom radar kicked in big tine on that one and I was correct. I took one look @ DH and said one word that I didn't even want to utter . . . Afghanistan.
Yesterday confirmed it. He is graduating 6 July from basics/advanced training (combat engineer). After a 10 day leave (but realistically he'll only be home 8 days because he has to be in TX a day early to report to Ft. Hood TX) where he'll be assigned and within 45 days he ships to AFG. That will be for 9-12 mths.
That's not even the bad part. He will be working with IED'd and UED's. That was all I needed to read (though I knew in my heart that was what he'd be doing) before I decimated an entire 100,000 mile radius of trees needed to make the kleenex I used.
The words in his letter just made me cry even more. First, he said, ". . . but note . . . the 10 days I'm home may be the last 10 for quite some time." Then goes on to say he decided to end/put on hold his relationship with his GF because, " . . . the less people that worry about me the better and I need to focus . . . and not focused I will not make it back. I'm scared but I've put reason over fear. I chose this life and I've spent the last 4 mths. training for this. I will not fail, I will not quit and I will never accept defeat. Don't lose your sleep over this (**my note: yeah, sure, right . . . I'll get right on it after I get another freakin' box of kleenex!) You all know I won't go down easy and if I do go down you know I"ll put up one hell of a fight." That last sentence was the one that keeps ringing in my head.
Prayers. Lots of 'em. It's going to take me time to come to peace with this, but I know I will, because I will be strong for him. THEN I'll fall the heck apart.
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Protective vibes going out to her son. Bring him home, and safely...
