Parents of 20-somethings

[Regina]

I've been hearing of different classmates/friends of my kids that are now stationed in Kuwait.

It all seems so surreal. Wasn't it only yesterday when they were tossing baseballs in the backyard? It seems so unbelievable that those sweet faced little boys are now defending our country.

I wish I could bring back the days when they'd come bursting in, raid the refrigerator and run back out to ride their bikes.

My heart goes out to their families.

 

[tc]

My nephew, 22 on May 1, is serving in Kuwait. He's driving a Humvee. He's two months younger than my daughter. I can clearly remember the summers he and his sister would come stay at my house. Tire swings, forts in the tree, lemonade stands, and the slip'n'slide. He was so carefree. Now he's defending our country. He just got out of the hospital with pneumonia, and a collapsed lung. My sister didn't hear about it until he was released. She asked him why he didn't call, and he said he was too sick. Asked why he didn't ask his commander or someone to call, and he said he didn't want them to think he's a baby. Well, he is a baby, my sister's baby. I support this war, but it's so hard to know our babies are out there fighting for our freedom.

 

[minniecarousel]

Yup - one of my former Cub Scouts & his brother are both over there. And my younger son (age 20) has another buddy from HS there too. They all grew up too fast anyway - but to think of them as men (& soldiers!) is difficult. They are continually in my prayers. (I've shed more than a few tears lately fearing for them.)