On this day of thanking our nation's veterans; I am hard pressed to explain to my sons and husband why I cry when watching or hearing:
the National Anthem, TAPS, Saluting the Flag or President, taking an oath of office, listening to prayers for peace, attending a funeral, visiting a memorial for the fallen, the Passing of the Colors, or witnessing those gathered in ceremonies to recognize veterans or our fallen.
I well up for all those families, co-workers, and friends who have waited for months or years for their loved ones to come home. I just bawl for those who will never again slip their loved ones into their embrace.
As a veteran, I love my country with all her blessings and flaws and though I never stepped foot onto a battle field; I weep from feeling guilty of not being chosen to stand by those who did. It's not that I feel cheated but, I feel like I cheated because of not being there with my 'band of brothers.'
It is so hard to explain to my sons how being in the military; I served in only support roles. Or convey the unity of standing in a flight, with the smell of starch so strong; it caused hunger pangs in the wee mornings during reveille's beaconing call to duty. Somethings I can only tell them about from a point of view that is still burns in my soul at the sound of a band's first solemn note -- taking me back to my youth and honor as a airman.
Another point, I can not tell them what it is to be a man in uniform so there are times I just can not speak since, I am a woman. I can only allow them to see my tears on days such as this. On this day, I pray for peace and say thanks to all who have served to include friends and family of those who did.
May God be with you,
USAF RET,
Mal Torres
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=radaOA0eFsw (Army Cadence Ad)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8-XkPJXhCw&feature=related (Air Force Cadence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7MlFdFs1z0&feature=related (Marine Cadence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qv0CJnTtn8 (Navy Cadence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1E1F5x85-g&feature=related (National Guard)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x__WAj170F0 (Coast Guard)
Showing posts with label military. Show all posts
Showing posts with label military. Show all posts
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, April 8, 2010
KISMET, the chicken momma dream
We are going to have our house leveled. I am so happy because from this 'repair,' we will be able to start on others like new siding, windows and flooring.
The story of our house, I was stationed at Andrews, Air Force Base in Maryland and my husband worked in the housing office. We started looking for a house online since, I was a year from retirement and just had Zephyr. We needed to buy our first home a final place to raise our boys with stability in a rural community. We poured over 1000s of listings. I had a 'pre-set' idea of what I wanted.
1. NO BIG CITY immdiately ruled out San Antonio, Corpus, Dallas, Houston & Austin
2. Excellent School System (yes I checked out online school report cards.)
3. Sexual Offenders registration
4. Some acreage
5. A house payment that would equal no more than 25% of my retirement pay.
6. Trees
7. Allowed chickens, gardening and maybe other animals
Of course, all this lended to limit our choices especially the budgetary issue since, my husband would not have a job upon arrival. One night while watching Special Victims Unit,
the page loaded and there stood my HAD TO HAVE HOUSE..
It looked kinda like a barn, no easements, and five acres. It was KISMET or meant to be. We went through all the paper work online, fought to get the house and nearly lost it three times to others, inspection rules, and lack of running water inside the house plus two broken windows.
After I retired, we drove from Maryland to this place our place....with knee high dry grass and open space. We showed up at our home seven months after closing, never have been inside with just 15 minutes before the moving van showed up on January 7th 2006.
I like that kind of fresh start from scratch; not knowing, butterfly feeling like the first drop on a roller coaster, stomach knotted excitement--feeling like I get with my husband. The thrill of the UNKNOWN....
I still love this house and the life we are building inside this home.
The story of our house, I was stationed at Andrews, Air Force Base in Maryland and my husband worked in the housing office. We started looking for a house online since, I was a year from retirement and just had Zephyr. We needed to buy our first home a final place to raise our boys with stability in a rural community. We poured over 1000s of listings. I had a 'pre-set' idea of what I wanted.
1. NO BIG CITY immdiately ruled out San Antonio, Corpus, Dallas, Houston & Austin
2. Excellent School System (yes I checked out online school report cards.)
3. Sexual Offenders registration
4. Some acreage
5. A house payment that would equal no more than 25% of my retirement pay.
6. Trees
7. Allowed chickens, gardening and maybe other animals
Of course, all this lended to limit our choices especially the budgetary issue since, my husband would not have a job upon arrival. One night while watching Special Victims Unit,
the page loaded and there stood my HAD TO HAVE HOUSE..
It looked kinda like a barn, no easements, and five acres. It was KISMET or meant to be. We went through all the paper work online, fought to get the house and nearly lost it three times to others, inspection rules, and lack of running water inside the house plus two broken windows.
After I retired, we drove from Maryland to this place our place....with knee high dry grass and open space. We showed up at our home seven months after closing, never have been inside with just 15 minutes before the moving van showed up on January 7th 2006.
I like that kind of fresh start from scratch; not knowing, butterfly feeling like the first drop on a roller coaster, stomach knotted excitement--feeling like I get with my husband. The thrill of the UNKNOWN....
I still love this house and the life we are building inside this home.
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