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Sunday, November 19, 2006
Had a farewell dinner for my youngest who is leaving to go work in Alaska towards his dream. How many parents have had farewell dinners for their children going overseas not knowing if they are faring well, dying a little each time the phone rings? Praying for their safe return, then when they get home asking God what happened to that child who was at that farewell dinner?

Monday, November 20, 2006
My son dropped me off at the airport to spend Thanksgiving which my parents (my son is going to spend his with his girlfriends family and his mother). While at the airport I meet a friend (George) who I had enrolled in Momentum which has radically changed his life. We spent the first leg of our flight together and talked, he shared about his son who he was going to support in his time of trouble and need. He said he had to go, I said no, you get to, you get an opportunity to share with your son. How many fathers don’t get that and whish they had gotten just a moment. How much would fathers of troops give for one moment, what would the parents of the troops that make it home give to have back the same child that left?

He said he has to do better, I said you don’t have to do anything, you are perfect the way you are, you chose to be more so that you can do more. I pray his son gets how much his father loves him, I pray the troops get how much their parents love them and that those parents open that space for them like my friend going the distance and becoming vulnerable, creating that safe place.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006
My sister drove me around Diamond head and the neighboring areas, it was hard for me to envision the storm and water while looking at the physical devastation. It was hard for me to imaging people drowning in the attics a mile from the beach. I had been in other parts of the South some time ago and remembered how friendly and polite they were. Here there seemed to be an underling resentment and depression, I can understand that with the destruction they saw and experienced and the lose of their homes, loved ones and the feeling of betrayal by their own country; just like what happens to the troops in a war. This happened a year and a half ago and things are still taken care of, we really know how to take care of our own.

Wednesday, November 22 2006
My cousin Pete joined us for Thanksgiving, he was a gunner in the Air force in Viet Nam, we talked about what was happening now and what happened then with the troops. Today as back then the only people you feel comfortable talking with are those that have been there or involved at some level. What is different is how the troops are treated and the media’s take on it, today there is more awareness of the effects of PTSD, now the next step is to really do something about it. If we can put a man on the moon can’t we get a soldier back into the community?

Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving was good, sharing a meal with the family and being aware of all the things I have to be thankful for. Not as those that have PTSD that are unable to see what they have to be thankful for. One of my sisters read a quote that went,” It may be my fault, but it is your problem“; that sounds like what my attitude had been.

Friday, November 24, 2006
My sister Deb left, the one that is confined to a wheel chair (physically only) to help her daughter with her first child. If my sister can help a fully functional person raise a child, what am I capable of doing?

Saturday, November 25, 2006
Went out with my youngest sister with her friends to a bar with a band. It has been a long time for me to go to a bar and not drink (I discovered I have more friends that way) and dance. I felt somewhat self conscience (if you can believe that of a man who doesn’t wear shoes?), there were all ages there so it wasn’t like I was the only 56yr old guy with 20yr olds. I left before midnight when the alcohol and testosterone of 20 yr olds starts to kick in and they fight over everything especially woman and honor. How many of the troops that make it back end up going to jail from that point of going out with their old high school friends to a bar? When we get mandatory PTSD for these troops before they get discharged how many lives will be saved in bar room brawls, how many will be kept from going to jail? Lets find out soon!