Memorial Day

I'm suffering from a case of pregnancy-induced insomnia this morning, so I've been up since about 4:00 a.m., when Camden appeared at our bedside, exclaiming, "I didn't pee my bed!" He's now fast asleep next to Steve, and I'm actually about to do some ironing - - something I have a hard time doing with a nearly three-year-old cyclone at my feet most waking moments.

Today I am thankful that my husband is alive and well - - that he survived a year in Iraq, and that he came home mentally and emotionally intact. Now that he is home, I find myself "forgetting" sometimes that he was gone for 17 months - - we kind of picked up where we left off when he came back, and got on with our lives. Then again, I often find myself wondering what it was like for him over there, day after day - - what did he think about, what did he worry about? When he went out on a mission, did he worry each time that he might die, or did he just go about his business? Knowing Steve, I'm guessing the latter. I actually think about these questions (and many others) quite a bit, but I don't ask him, mostly because I'm guessing he won't want to rehash all of that, and partly because I just don't want to know. It scares me to think about what he must have seen, felt, thought, and experienced. Maybe a bit selfish on my part, but I'm just happy that he is home and that I don't have to spend every day wondering what may or may not be happening to him, every waking minute.

No matter what your political views are, keep in mind that the majority of the soldiers who serve are extremely proud to do so. When I read about or see protests, with people demanding that our soldiers be "sent home" immediately, I find it almost irritating. Don't get me wrong - - I wouldn't wish a deployment to a war zone on anyone - - it is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. I guess what I am trying to say is that when someone joins the military, nobody is forcing them to do so. They do it because they are proud, strong, brave, and there is something within them that sets them apart from the rest of the population, whether they consciously know this themselves, as they are signing on the dotted line. I know my husband is one of those people - - he loves the Army and he is proud of what he accomplished while he was in Iraq. When someone joins the military, they don't do it with the stipulation that if they don't agree with the particular war, or their president, that they can opt out. They give of themselves unconditionally.

So, while you are enjoying friends and family today, and hopefully cooking out, please take a moment, whether publicly, or just in your head, to remember and thank the thousands and thousands of men and women who have given so much, to protect our freedom. Thank you, Steve and Rex, you are my heroes.