Red Friday - Support the Troops

I need you.

A post "from the other side"; written by a US National Guard soldier about to leave on his first deployment, to A'stan.

Be safe.  

Yes, my body is defective, and many of the things I choose to do carry the risk of getting hurt; I choose not to hide away, and to live anyway.



Yes, my heart is open, some say too open, and there are many people in the world who might hurt me; I choose not to hide away, but to love anyway.
 
I will live the way I need to, and be true to myself, with no regrets at the end of the road.  I would prefer to be hurt than to always wonder what if, or think if only.
 
I will not live my life in fear, but will celebrate the opportunities presented, hang on, and enjoy the ride.

Wordless Wednesday

Red Friday - Support the Troops

For today's Red Friday post, I am going to deirect you to Army Blogger Wife's blog.  Her hubs, and her family, are preparing for thier 4th deployment.  Her daughter asked a question at the final briefing that we would all like the answer to ...  

Red Friday - Support the Troops

19 June 2010 Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

The Annual Loops for the Troops event held at Kandahar Airfield on June 19 2010 was founded by Michael Hornburg in honour of his son, Corporal Nathan Hornburg.

This event is held annually in honour of Nathan to commemorate his birthday of June 19th. This will be the third year the race has been conducted, raising a total of $115,000. The money has been distributed amongst the Wall of Honour in Calgary and General Hillier’s Military Family, even though this run was formed in Nathan Hornburg’s honour. The Loops for the Troops event is in support of our Canadian military, veterans, their families and in remembrance of our fallen who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

JTF-Afg is Canada’s military contribution to Afghanistan. Canadian operations focus on working with Afghan authorities to improve security, governance, and economic development in the country.

Photo by MCpl Claude Arseneault

The Wolf's Return

The date of the Wolf's return to this country is approaching fast.  He put something up in his FaceBook recently about the number of days left, and it hit me like a punch to the gut.
I should be out looking for a home coming outfit, and fussing about the fact I haven't lost the weight I wanted to, and thinking about walcome home plans.

Instead I am wondering if I should go see him at all, if he will want to see me, if I want to see him.

His sister in law thinks I owe him face to face closure.  A number of my friends think that he did not give me and concession, any face to face, any closure, any peace, and I don't owe him a damn thing.

Add to that the fact that, if I am brutally honest, he is a man who is larger and stronger than me, who is much better trained, mentally and physically, and has a drinking problem and anger management issues.  He has twice been forced by the CF to take an anger management course.  He said it taught him a lot, including some ways to intimidate people that he hadn't thought of before.

I am a little afraid of what he would do if we did meet.  He knows how to hurt me, mentally emotionally.  I am not completely convinced that he wouldn't also hurt me physically, if it came down to it.

He has been reaching out in little ways for about a month or so ~ I refer to them as "pings".  Little comments on my FaceBook, quick e-mails, even an MSN conversation a few weeks ago.  Nothing of substance, but more contact than there ahs been in quite a while.

Maybe he just wants his friend back.  Maybe he has realized he was an idiot and this is a feeler to see if I might accept an appology.  Maybe he really has no clue how badly he hurt me, and is just trying to carry on like nothing happened.

I am really trying not to let this eat at me.  When he gets back in country I will actually be away; but they will, from what I have heard, likely keep him at the base for a while anyway before he actually is allowed to come to this province. 

I will make my decision when one needs to be made; I will honour my own feelings, and my instincts, and of course, my dear friends, you will hear the events unfold!!

Take care of yourselves, and each other.

Words ....

I know there are words that will make your heart sink a lot faster than "we have to go out for a long time, and contact will be limited, if at all", but right now I am trying really, really hard not to imagine any of those words ....

I guess the good side is we had a nice, long chat this morning.  He is dealing with some crap, but nothing he can't handle ... and neither am I, in the grand scheme of things.

Red Friday - Support the Troops

IS2009-3028   19 July 2009

Vimy Ridge National Historical Site of Canada, France


Corporal Davin Kirwin from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (CER) based Canadian Forces Base of Edmonton, Alberta, bears the Canadian flag and Corporal Brenda Cutter from Canadian Forces Postal Unit (CFPU) based out of Ottawa, Ontario, bears the French Flag at the base of the Vimy Ridge National Memorial Site of Canada, in France during a remembrance service. Corporal Kirwin and Corporal Cutter are two participants of the 270 members of Canadian contingent participating in the 2009 Nijmegen marches in the Netherlands this year.

The Canadian Forces contingent visited Vimy Ridge, France to hold a memorial ceremony at the Canadian National Vimy memorial, in France. The Royal Canadian Legion generously provided sponsorship funds towards this Non-Public Property Vimy Ridge visit.


The Nijmegen Marches, held annually in the Netherlands, is a rigorous and prestigious annual event, attracting some 45,000 military and civilian participants and more than a million spectators, from over 50 nations. The Marches, held this year from 21-24 July, are both a challenging and emotional experience for Canadian Forces members, who have participated in the event annually since 1952. The Marches are an opportunity for the Canadian Forces members to honor the Canadians who lost their lives fighting in Europe in the 20th Century, as they walk the same land from where so many never returned.


The Marches are also the ultimate test of physical fitness and mental stamina and require effective teamwork as participants march over 160 km in four days while carrying a standard military rucksack weighing at least 10 kg.

Photo by Master Corporal Angela Abbey, Canadian Forces Combat Camera