God Bless The Military Spouse

I find it hard these days to talk about anything other than Sprout and war. I know my sisters are already getting tired of it but bless their hearts, they let me ramble. And when I'm not talking about it, I'm thinking about it. And always, always, in the back of my mind is that awful "what if". What if they come to tell us he is dead? It's a morbid thought and I was beginning to think that I was bordering on some psychosis by dwelling on it so much. I thought I must be the only fool thinking these things so constantly. The other day, Sproutette told me a story that made me realize I'm not alone and I'm not crazy.

Sproutette works with some other military wives with husbands preparing to go to Iraq or already in Iraq. One of her young co-workers, whose husband is in Iraq now, is pregnant. Recently, Sprout was working and sent one of his army buddies to Sproutette's office to pick up something she had for him, keys or something. Anyway, she said when the soldier walked through the door in his military uniform, her pregnant friend turned toward the door and on seeing the soldier, her face turned as white as a ghost. The girl just knew he had been sent to give her some bad news.

I hate that these young wives (or husbands) have to live in fear of being contacted by the Army that their loved one has been killed, but this story shows me that I am not the only one thinking constantly about this. Army spouses has been dealing with this fear since long before I came along. But to be so young and have this fear seems overwhelming.

Come to I think of it, my own grandmother had to deal with this when my uncle fought in Korea. Of course, back then it was much worse as far as news from the front is concerned. My uncle was wounded in Korea and my grandmother received a telegram saying only that he had been wounded. No details, nothing. For weeks, she tried to get some information from the Red Cross and the Army. It was three months before she finally got a letter from my uncle saying that he would be okay. Grandma was always a hand-wringer...maybe now I understand why.

Well...Phooey!!!

Just as Sprout leaves his pretty young wife for a month of training, they announce this...Gates Extends Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months. Well, if that don't just tan my hide. More than likely, he will still be in Iraq when we elect his new Commander-in-Chief. Lord, I hope we find somebody worthy.

It's going to be a long, long year (and then some).

I Need Suggestions

I am trying to think of something that I can give to family and friends while Sprout is gone off to war to help to remind them to pray for him daily. I know people tell you that they will pray for something or someone but I also know how I am...I sometimes forget. I'm thinking of something they can maybe wear with his name on it that will constantly remind them to think of him and to pray for him. I've thought of having dog tags made or maybe some of those POW type bracelets with him name, rank, deployed date and such. Is this idea terribly hokey? Anybody got any good ideas? I really want as many people as I can get to pray for him constantly while he is gone. I know that prayer works and more prayer can't hurt. Maybe I could get some of those plastic colored wrist bands printed with "Pray for Sprout" on them. Whatever it is, it has to be something that will instantly remind people to pray for him. I've found a couple of things like this or this...

The only problem with the bracelet is that I wore one when I was in high school during the Vietnam war and they all had names of MIA's or POW's. I don't EVEN want to think of Sprout as one of those.

Well, whatever it takes to remind people to pray for him...if wearing a bracelet does it, swell. For those of us who are forgetful, it may take something a little more obvious... like this

Surprise Visit

I had just gotten home from work last night and was in the bedroom changing when the doorbell rang. I hollered to Stoicdad to "GET THE DOOR, I'M DRESSING" (in my quaint little southern drawl). I walked out to be greeted by my brand-new daughter-in-law, smiling and happy. My tone immediately changed as I wondered why she was here and not far-away from here tending to my son. We quickly talked over each other and she said that since Sprout was out on field maneuvers all week, her mother (who misses her) offered to fly her home for a visit. With her husband's permission, she came back to see us. What a nice surprise.

I grilled her good about Sprout and his state of mind on going to war. She tells me much more than he does. She also doesn't yet read him as well as I do. She said that he and his friends don't seem to be worried about going to war while she and all her friends talk about it all the time. She will learn soon enough that men don't voice their fears as much as women do.

All that aside, she sounds quite happy as does Sprout these days. They are a fit match. She did tell me something funny that the Little General said at their wedding which I had not heard before. The Little General is so full of funny. Sproutette (DIL's new official blog name thought up just this minute)said that after the wedding service, the Little General came up to Sprout and said "I'm so glad y'all got married. Now you will be my uncle for ever and ever." Ummmm...little girl...Sprout is your daddy's brother. That makes him a permanent uncle from day one, like it or not. I guess she was confused as to who became the "new" relative once the I do's were said. Anyway, it's good to see Sproutette so happy and to hear her talk about life with my son with such youthful glee.

Ahhh yes, I remember it well, that first year of marriage.

The Prince & Him (Harry & Sprout Go To War)

Prince Harry ------------------- Sprout
Well, this is a little uncanny. Looks like Sprout and His Highness Prince Harry will be going to Iraq about the same time. I have always had a fondness for Prince Harry. He is only a couple of weeks younger than Sprout and I always thought that Sprout looked a lot like Prince Harry. You gotta admit they resemble each other. HEY! Maybe they were twins separated at birth. Maybe the queen thought that twins would be too much for poor Princess Diana to handle so they searched the world over and found a pregnant lady in the US who, unbeknownst to her, had lost her child during childbirth (even though she was wide awake and didn't miss a thing) and they left one of the royal twins for her to raise as her own. Maybe Sprout is really a prince. I knew it!!! The Prince and the Pauper. Hey? It could happen - they both have red hair and sly grins.

Princess Di and I were both preggos together, heck we might have even gone to the same breathing classes (if I had lived in England 22 years ago and if I were royalty and got to hang out with the crowns and if I had gone to any breathing classes anyhow). Anyway, Di and I bonded during our pregnancies. Well, I bonded. Di just hung out and did pregnant princess stuff. But we could have been friends. We might have shared the same dorca or whatever they call that lady who charges you $700.00 to come and tell you not to forget to breath while you are in labor.

But seriously, Diana died a few months after my mother died and I remember getting up at 3:00 in the morning to watch her funeral and sitting alone in front of the television in our dark living room, quietly weeping. All my sisters admitted to doing the same. Prince Harry was the one who broke my heart. He was so young and so sad. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for boys who lose their mothers young. At least Diana won't have to see him go off to war. Lucky for her.

Maybe Sprout will have an opportunity to save Prince Harry's life while they are in Iraq and the queen will be so grateful that she will make Sprout a knight and we will get invited to have dinner at Buckingham Palace and Sprout will be called Sir Sprout and the queen will let me wear her crown in swimming and everything. Yes, it does sound far-fetched, but it sure beats worrying.

Creeps!

I've got a few words for those cowards in Congress and their "non-binding" resolution. Well - they aren't my words and they were spoken long ago at the opening of a cemetery for the war dead, but they are just as appropriate today as they were then, probably more so.

"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863

I just absolutely hate people who start something and never finish it.

Krispy Kreme Kids

Just some eye-candy to keep this poor lil ole blog alive. Nothing much to write about lately. I came across this picture of the grandkids while searching through some pictures tonight. Just call it free advertising for Krispy Kreme. I took this picture one Sunday morning during our after-Mass-doughnut-run. Now tell me the truth...ain't dey cute?

L to R - Sgt. York, Thonk (my nephew), and the Little General