Letters From War

Hi all,

I saw this video on Youtube a few days ago, and have not been able to get it out of my head. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmjhUPa65mk

I mean, I really can't get it out of my head. It "plays" as soon as I wake up and before I go to sleep. It plays in the grocery store and as I do the dishes. I love it...but it's driving me nuts!

I suppose it's because it can be digested from so many points of view and I always puzzle things out to the millionth degree. It's a double-edged sword, believe me! :<)

As an "artist" I think about how the song lyrics were fit together. As the minivan/shower singer that I am, I think about the voice of Mark Schultz who sings it.

As a wife, I think about the pain this woman must feel with her husband gone, having to miss him and also shouldering the anguish of the unknown fate of her son alone. I have always thought that not knowing is many times harder than knowing--even if it's a painful knowing.

As a mother...oh my God...I can't imagine waiting two years to know that my son was okay. When his mother collapses in the video, I could really feel it--albeit a fraction of the real thing--and I was so relieved to see it was him. Home and safe.

As a human being who--like so many others--tries to do the right thing, I think of the sacrifice of leaving your home and everyone you love to go off and fight a war. I have such a deep respect for anyone who sacrifices to go into the military. I think it takes a rare kind of heart to serve one's country this way.

As of last night, I have been thinking of it in terms of being someone's child, because after all, where not everyone is a spouse, mother, father sister, brother, whatever...the one thing we all are--is someone's child.

Yes, it's these multi-layered things I love--sort of! :<) You know, the "writing experts" are always saying you should write about things that you know but I have found (for myself anyway) that the sparks come when I write about something I don't know but desperately want to understand.

My God! I could have a thousand year career, huh?!