Veterans and other military deals

I know I am a little late to talk about veterans but bare with me.  Today I got this email from my sister-in-law.

Subject: hi

thought you would want to know this:

Clara called your dad on Veteran’s Day to thank him for his service to the country.  She got a letter from him today and it said that although he appreciated the sweet thoughts from Clara, it was his family that were the true heroes.  He went on to explain that it was you all tnat made it on your own all the times that he was gone.  He also mentioned how difficult it was for all of you to constanly be on the lookout for “the shiny green car” to pull up in the driveway with bad news.

I don’t know if he has ever said these words to you and your brother, but I believe him when he calls his family “the true heroes”

Love you,
Tracy

First of all I want to say thank you dad.  I know I never call on veterans day or bring up Vietnam but that is because I never thought  it was something that you wanted to talk about.  You made it clear very early on that you thought it was your own private battle to fight, and you didn’t want to burden your family with details.  I respect that.  And truthfully I don’t think I want to know.  I have heard what it was like, I snooped and saw pictures, it was very unselfish of you to keep all of that to yourself.

I was too young to understand why you were gone, I just know that I was happy when you came back.

I am proud of you, my boys are proud of you.  We love you very much!

Ok, now on a lighter note.  When we were in college at The University of Texas my father-in-law (also a military man) would always say, “now son, did you ever think about joining the reserves?”  Andy’s response was always the same but it didn’t stop him from asking again.  And again.

Fast forward 10 years or so and you can imagine his delight now that he has 6 grandsons he can work on. Austin is the oldest Grandson so on their last visit here I started cracking up when I heard…..”hey Austin, have you ever thought about becoming a pilot?  What about West Point?  With both of your grandads being in the military you have a good chance of getting in!”

I could tell the wheels were turning in his head.  There are a few things standing in the way of Austin’s career as a Pilot.  First of all he doesn’t really like to fly.  This could change though.  I actually think he would be a great pilot.  He keeps saying that he thinks he wants to be a surgeon.  Maybe he could do both.  Who knows?

The other thing is that Austin has his heart set on Ohio State.  This too could change.

So Grandad’s dreams of West Point and a military grandson may happen.  He has 6 chances.  Well maybe 5.  Blake wants to live in a shack on the coast of Hawaii and surf all day.  Doesn’t seem like he will go down the military road.

Cole has much higher ambitions- he wants to work at Target.  He says the Target guys are rich because we are always giving them all of our money.

He has a point there.

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elisa

2 COMMENTS

  1. Susan | 18th Nov 08

    Elisa, this is one of your best posts ever!

  2. Elisa | 18th Nov 08

    Thanks!

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