Saturday, March 24, 2007

SEE YOU SOON!!!

I said see you later to son Matt on Tuesday morning!
It’s the last time I'll see him for a long, long time!
I had heard somewhere that you should never say goodbye to a person going off to war. Its bad luck I guess. So see you later seemed to be the best alternative.


All of my son's are special to me.
If you don't find your children special, regardless of how they turn out, you don't deserve to have them.
Nor do they deserve you!!

I’m certain that most responsible parents would never admit to having a favorite child. And neither will I.
To be honest, all three of mine are my favorite for different reasons!
I tried to be as much a friend as a father as possible, while they were growing up, and still raise them to be responsible citizens.
I didn’t force religion, or military service beliefs, or what they should do with their lives on them. Choosing to leave that up to them with hope that they would form their own opinion, and make sound decisions.
I’m sure they know my beliefs about the way a man should live his life.
In spite of the fact that I wasn’t much of a roll model as a younger man.

Matt is the baby.
I suppose the baby usually gets the better of the deal!!
( I say usually, because I know that there is no steadfast rule in this matter)! The youngest gets the benefit that parents have learned from mistakes on their older siblings. Maybe!
My baby is going off to war!! To be quite frank, I don’t know how I’m going to deal with it!
On the one hand I am so proud of him for doing what so many wouldn’t. That being, serving our country.
On the other, I’m mad as hell that he has to be subjected to what he will go thru for the next twelve plus months!


War is hell.

It changes people in ways that only those who have experienced it can imagine.
People who have not experienced it will never understand, and people who have rarely talk about it.
Even if they wanted to, they could never truly portray what they went thru.
The sights, sounds, and smells. The stress, fear and sorrow. The psychological pain of seeing comrades die in battle. Sometimes in their arms!

I didn’t get to spend the time I wanted with Matt when he was home!
He had four days to get together and spend time with all of his friends, and his brothers, and I felt that was important for him and them. So I took the back seat.
I didn’t get to tell him how much I’ll miss him.
I never told him that no matter what happens, what hell he goes through, or how much this experience changes him, God willing, I’ll be here ready to listen when he gets back.

A couple of lines from a song say more than I could hope to!
”Fathers don’t just love their children every now and then! It’s a love without end amen”.

Until you and your brothers at arms are all home safe I won’t rest.

God bless all of you, and keep you safe!
See you later.

Love ya Dad!

5 comments:

  1. Your baby is a cutie.

    Must take after his mom.

    ;p - So there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel bad for saying that.

    I shouldn't though. You called down the thunder.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My two mottos,(in blogging that is)
    1) Take no prisoners!
    2) Have no regrets!

    In real life, I'm quite compassionate, and friendly. I play well with others! So I need a release for my pent up fury.


    Your comment will probably turn up in my Sunday Morning blog. (hint).

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful tribute to your son. We are all behind him and support him, even if we don't support the war and that idiot Bush.

    You sound like a great dad, a dad I would have been proud to call my own.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yeah, well I haven't made your blog roll yet.

    Seriously thank you for your kind words!
    Hopefully I'll get Matt and a few of his comrades to communicate their experiences with us thru this media.
    Anyone who hasn't checked out Suzy's blog point and click there now,.
    You won't regret it.

    ReplyDelete