Homecoming Part 2

Well my son is home. What a great feeling. To see him march in on that field and to know that he will soon be home for good. He is getting out. He has had enough. So good to have him back after he was gone for so long. So happy and yet sad at the same time for those who came back to find that no one was there for them. Such is the life of single soldier whose family is too far away to be there when they come home. I am sure they wanted to be there but circumstances did not let them. We gave hugs and handshakes to my son's friends and told them welcome home and thank you. But as we left the base to head home it was sad to see soldiers waiting or walking on the side of the road with no one. Broke my heart. Just as it breaks my heart for those men and women who come home in a casket. Their life cut short so I can live mine. The greatest sacrifice of all was made by them and their families and it is something I remember everyday and every time I have the luxury of speaking with my son, that someone else's boy did not get to come home to his family. It is a doubled edged sword. Happy/Sad - Happy for myself and sad for others. To feel otherwise would be wrong in my heart.

Good News

Tomorrow - my son comes home from Iraq. We have been waiting for this day for a year. I am so excited I am about to bust. Even though he is 23 he is still my little boy and always will be. He has done his time in the Army and will finally get out in July. He should have gotten out in February 2004 but good ole Bush and his stop/loss kept him in there an extra year, with no pay raise because he did not re-enlist. What kind of bull is that? Why because he did not re-up he was still considered what he was when he should have gotten out. No promotion, no raise. It sucks for him. While others who were still doing their time were getting promoted and getting raises, he because they kept him on board didn't get anything. So why didn't he re-up? Well let's see this was his second time into Iraq and the government could not tell him whether or not they would send him back for a third time or send him to Afghanistan instead. So he said no thank you, I've served by country and I've seen enough hell holes for this lifetime. I am just glad he is coming back to the states. This has been a hard year and not anything I would ever want any mother, father, daughter, son, sister, etc. to go through. Everyday that you don't hear from them, you wonder are they all right. It is very stressful (I have gained over 25 pounds in the last year because of the stress). So happy days are here again, at least we hope because we can never be sure how our soldiers are going to return home to us. Most will be forever changed, either for the good or the bad depending on how they have dealt with what they had to do. Seeing the living conditions, trying to help people who don't want you there, including children who have so much hate instilled them they can't even see that you might be a kind person, to having to take someone out in order to save your own life or that of a comrade. The re-adjustment will not be easy, but he has his mama and you can bet I will do anything and everything I can for him. He served his country, I just hope his country will remember the sacrifice he made for them. For him and all the others like him, I will never forget what they have done and what they have given up. A lot of them their very life. Whether we belonged there or not, these men and women, they deserve our respect.

New

I am not sure anyone will see this, or if they even care. I will be nice, but will be a bitch when necessary. Initial thoughts of day: Iraq - we should not be there; Family - they will always come first; Work - sucks - preparing for trial so boss is totally stressing me out; Live - too many questions, so just live it the best you can.