We had hundreds of Soldiers and family members and friends at the farewell ceremony yesterday at the Convention Center. It had been a long day at the Armory on Saturday, inventorying and packing duffel bags and rucksacks and loading crates to have equipment shipped to Summer Camp - North. The Armory was pretty warm, too.
Because I live so far away from Home Station, the Guard has put me up in a hotel until we leave for our next destination. I find it odd that a hotel as nice as where we're staying seems to feel the need to charge a rather exorbitant rate for an internet connection, especially when I've stayed in budget accommodations and internet access has been gratis.
I'm hoping to get my computer screen repaired today, if all goes as planned. I asked to have the technician come as early as possible, since it's not clear to me how long we'll be at the Armory today, and I'd like to spend some time with my brother and sister-in-law who live not far away from Home Station.
Watching families saying good-bye to one another reminds me of one of my latest soap-boxes: grief. I am more and more convinced that if we as a culture "did" grief in a healthier fashion, we'd have a lot less PTSD, since PTSD seems in large measure to be about unobserved, unrecognized, or otherwise ignored grief.
I'll be taking leave of my parents in just a few minutes, so this is a topic of importance to me at the moment.
Blessings and peace to one and all,
Fr. Tim, SJ
1 comment:
Tim, you're right about grief, and PTSD. Progress has been made from WWI, WWII, Korea and Viet Nam where it wasn't even given a name. Brave Heroes are not supposed to feel grief, fear, etc., and if they do, they are never supposed to tell a civilian! I, too, as a daughter, sister, wife of military know the ravages!! We do get to count the progress, though. And, no, Life is not about fair, it's a journey of adventures! Have a good trip to Summer Camp, North
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