I don’t usually watch the news but the other day I had it on. There was a homecoming for some soldiers who were just getting home from Iraq, or it may have been Afghanistan. There were happy smiling faces, hugs and kisses and I was happy for them but I was also sad, sad that we would never have that.
When Adam was in Iraq, the thought of his homecoming helped get me through some of the hard, worrisome times. I planned it over and over again in my mind. We would all be at Camp LeJeune when the buses rolled in with our men. I would have the BIG signs I’d painted that said “Welcome Home Adam!” We would all be dressed in the same bright neon green color so he could pick us out of the crowd and get to us faster. We would cry and hug and laugh. And Adam would say, “let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!” He would be ready to get home. When we pull into our driveway, he would see the yellow ribbons on every tree in our yard and he would smile. I would make his favorite cheesy garlic biscuits and he would eat the whole pan of them by himself, with a big glass of milk. But, we didn’t get to have that homecoming.
My thoughts go to another homecoming 37 years ago when my dad came home from Viet Nam. I think about it now and I think how sad it was. At the time I didn’t realize it. I was so excited to see my dad; so happy he was home safe. But, when I compare it to the way our soldiers are honored today as opposed to how he had to come home then, I’m so, so sad about it. I went to the airport with a friend to pick him up. He was wearing civilian clothes and he was traveling by himself. There were no crowds to welcome him, no welcome home signs, just my friend and me.
I have been missing my dad a lot lately. He died in 1994 from exposure to agent orange. He didn’t die in Viet Nam but Viet Nam killed him. He was 63.
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Right back at you Cuz,It is good to hear from you. I can't believe that you found me with Google. On a personal note. I am very sorry about your son. We lost an infant son to Sids. I feel your pain. We were in a total haze for nearly 2 years. Somewhere around that time the fog started to lift. It was around that point that I started having days where I didn't think about it. Then I would feel guilty that I didn't think about it. I'm not telling you how to feel, just my experience. I started feeling like a normal person again. The pain never left, it just isn't as intense or on the surface like it once was. There is a reason it says and "God will wipe away your tears" If you live a long time, there are many friend and family to miss along the way. We don't get that, when we are young. Derek
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