The Power of Words ...and a Father's Love

I need to get back to views from the swamp, ....but for today I am sharing this and hope someone will read it.....a young man's birthday and a powerfully written tribute from his dad.

Six Word Challenge

Can you do it? "One long year, you'll be home."......a contraction counts as one word, right?? It's a pretty pathetic attempt, but I'm still thinking. Read or listen here.

Mental Health Month

Wow, I've taken the entire month of January off. After back to back good-byes to my warriors on January 7th and 8th, I packed a bag and accompanied my 84 year-old Dad to Florida. After years of driving, he's spent the last probably 8 to 10 years as a passenger. This year the group consensus was that he should fly. He kept insisting he was riding, even though a ticket had been purchased for him. I decided to abandon the babymomma and grandbaby and accompany him at the last minute. So, a few days before we were to leave I had a phone conversation with him about packing. He was relaxed and happy, confident in all he could take and leisurely pack in the car...."but I thought you were flying, Dad"....."ha, ha, ha, no, besides I'd never fly alone"..."That's right, I'm flying with you"...."what?"...about three phone calls later he realized we were not kidding. (It is such an odd place to be, this pillar of strength now so vulnerable.) We had an uneventful trip and I was able to stay for two weeks and have no real responsibilities. It began with temps in the 30's and lots of dead fish but to see green, and sand, and blue/green ocean...it was comforting and healing and so very peaceful....apart from all the shouting because my mom is so very hard of hearing...I spent much of the time throwing a white board and marker at my dad!...but I also spent a great deal of time doing this.......wish I could stay there till April and maybe it would have been good for babymomma to be on her own and find her own way and support system....but I'm back and trying to stay out of the way and be supportive as needed....and get back to living.

Procrastination And Elephants

Two things I am amazingly skilled with ~ procrastinating and avoiding the elephant in the room at all costs. Somehow I have frittered away a two week, almost three week, window with my warriors. Good-byes which have been looming over our head first for a year, then six months are now days away. We don't talk about it. We have sat around doing the mundane tasks of eating and laundry but have neglected celebrating moments together. A snowy Sunday and a rough night out with friends as well as lack of communication meant no "last" Sunday dinner with the octogenarians. Gift certificates to eat out are going unused as there just doesn't seem to be a common time for all of us to be together. Work schedules, predeployment responsibilities that require two days out of our last three, my young warrior who says this is enough good-bye I don't need to go to North Carolina to see him off later this month, I wasn't planning this to be good-bye....and whoever plans deployments in January from Vermont,...sorry for the ranting, looking forward to next year and a welcome home in Vermont in winter.

Feeder Friday

Treated to this bird all day today! I believe it's a Carolina Wren, a first for me. The birds do seem to know when snow is coming, the feeders have been very busy. Two cardinal pairs, 10 mourning doves stacked up in the branches around the feeders like planes waiting to land, junco and goldfinch by the score, nuthatches, and wood peckers - downy, hairy, and red-bellied, not to mention chickadee and tufted titmouse, and bluejay,....and an ornery red squirrel or two.