I don’t often write personal posts on here. Yes, I might tell you about how the renovations to my office are going, what kind of photography related jewelry I buy, who my preferred vendors are etc., but today, this is a ‘personal’ post.
My son Daniel is a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps.
It has been a pretty emotional rollercoaster for me since the day he left for boot camp if I’m honest but being a Marine was always what he wanted to do. Some kids want to be an astronaut one week, a vet the next. Dan always wanted to be a Marine. So once he graduated high school, off he went.
8 months ago Dan was deployed to Afghanistan. While he has been away, we have had a LOT of sleepless nights, waiting for the 2-3 am phone calls that get disconnected with a frequency that is hard to believe but the minutes we DO get to talk to him are precious and mean everything. We try not to get too emotional when reading the news, we try not to hold our breath if there is ever an unexpected knock at the door. You are told as a parent to try not to worry. Yeah. About that………….. :-/
You can’t image the guilt you feel when you hear about a death in Afghanistan and you sigh with deep relief to know it isn’t your own son.
Imagine that for a second.
Today, 8 months after he left, he comes home. While there are many things happening in the world right now that are war related, deaths of Navy SEALS, people being killed in Iraq, etc., my son is coming home today and it is all I can do not to scream my joy from the rooftops.
He. Is. Coming. Home. TODAY.
So for the next couple of days while I spend time with him, hug him and cry, please think about the Soldiers and Marines who aren’t coming home, who are still there fighting. Please think about them, for me.
Here are a few photos he sent me while he was away.
Thank you.