Awesome ... now I can snitch a copy of my photo of you from here. Thanks! I haven't been a member of that forum for a long time now. I moved on from it but stay connected with many members from there still.
Regards all my "kind words" to you, I meant them, simply put. I'll say again, your "venting" was awesome and I know without a doubt that what I said was, and is, true, about the impact your expressions have had on a lot of people. May not have been your intention for writing, but that's how it worked and benefited those who have read it. That's what open honesty naturally does to people, it reaches them and shows people what those close to them haven't been able to say or show them and someone else comes along and "says it out loud" and the lightbulbs of understanding come on, as do openings for discussion.
There are some things in my life that I never spoke out loud to a soul until I read or heard others tell their own stories, 30 plus years after some of my own experiences happened. Until then, a large part of me was stunted and couldn't move forward. Others open honesty opened not only doors to communication but removed obstacles of closeness and understanding between me and others. Healing started to happen.
I think, part of your stories, about the bonds between you and your buddies serving, and serving itself, has helped a lot of partners and spouses, friends, and people in general, understand better and deeper just how important and strong those bonds run. They understand their "soldier/whatever" better and in turn and are more supportive and accepting of letting them go ... off to war, off to their buddies, their family, etc.
I know you sure helped me "get" that better than I did before.
You've helped a lot of people understand the importance and power of those bonds ... and how hard it must be to be longing to be with them and part of helping them off fighting, by their sides "I've got your back" ... and not be able to to that.
All that just because you were just being yourself and venting here. I wish more would "vent" just like you did ,,, and god how I wish my parents generation were that open. Different times and attitudes I know.
Personally, I think that the bonds between war buds, men and women who go through this together, is probably a whole lot deeper than most relationships between people. Even spouses. Its unique ... and deep.
Also, your ways of expressing yourself in general, is great. And I know I, for one, love reading how you express yourself. Great stuff, whether you just post, or write something that one day becomes a book.
I hope your physical healing keeps up and goes faster so you can go do what you want to do and if you miss the reenacting and get back into it sometime, that would be so cool.
I wish both you and your wife a lot of happiness and good stuff (do you play your pipes for her?
)
Til next time ... Carman
