Anxious Randomness

Random is the best I can probably do this week. I apologize, that although random, it has much to do with Tara and Justin. That’s pretty much all that has been on my mind.

All kidding aside, Justin’s accident has impacted me in ways I never anticipated. I realize that NONE of this is about me, but I have been feeling some anxiousness and restlessness ever since that night that I can’t seem to calm. Justin had just left our house, and I heard about the accident almost instantly via a tweet from a local reporter who was headed to the scene after hearing it on the scanner. I knew without a doubt that it was Justin.

The best I felt was when we were at the hospital with Justin. I felt like I was serving a purpose I guess. He wanted Tara to be there, Tara wanted to be there, and maybe, just maybe I could be of a little support to his mom. We were able to be there with him most of the day Saturday so she could be at home preparing the house for his return home, wheelchair bound for a least a month.

See the chopper? My "seat" at the hospital was under the landing pad

See the chopper? My “seat” at the hospital was under the landing pad. It was kind of cool seeing it, but horrible to know that whoever was on it was seriously ill or injured.

Tara has know this young man for two years and it took this accident for me to meet  his parents. His dad is local, his mom lives 2  hours away. He has always hung out at our house. His parents already liked Tara before they even met her!

On the way home. His mom said it was quite a challenge to get him in the vehicle.

On the way home. His mom said it was quite a challenge to get him in the vehicle.

It is strange the way it all worked out. I had taken 4 days off from work, just to be off. My mother is away, and I didn’t want Tara to be home all day alone while I worked. We were able to use some of the time to go to the hospital, and some of it has been spent just the two of us.

Her anxiety is through the roof as well. She’s also having to go to school to take her finals (she has been on home bound instruction for the past 1 1/2 mos due to her “anxiety and panic attacks). This is not helping! This made me laugh when we pulled into the school!

I guess some students didn't want anyone to forget what year it is! North Penn High School

I guess some students didn’t want anyone to forget what year it is! North Penn High School

Today after taking three finals we headed out for the afternoon. We had some things to pick up from the store and Tara is usually the calmest when riding in the car listening to her music.

On the way to Wal-Mart, I remembered that I still had a free movie pass, and we were headed near the theater. We decided to go see Star Trek Into the Darkness again. Chris Pine is enough to get your mind off of anything for a couple hours. Sadly, the darkness found me having trouble keeping my eyes open. That’s okay. Tara enjoyed watching again, and I probably saw more than half. I was never really asleep, just “resting my eyes”!

Sigh, Chris Pine.

Sigh, Chris Pine.

On the way home a boy Tara had dated for a short time last year texted to see if she wanted to hang out. (Out of the blue the other day he had messaged her, needing to apologize for the awful way he broke up with her and wanting to try and be friends) I told her she should go for a distraction. He has a car, and she could get out of the house without me! Just because she is dating a boy does not mean she can’t have other male friends. I think (no, I know, he told her) the boy regrets breaking up!

Tara is not a psycho girlfriend like so many teens. She let’s the boy do the work, she does not chase after them! Too many girls these days feel they need to throw themselves at boys to have them like them. This is one of the circumstances that Tara is a bit more mature than some of her friends.

Tara needs her own Lifetime Movie! “My Boyfriend is Broken, and my Ex Wants Me Back” We have had to find humor in this situation!

Jack our kitten has been quite the trouble maker. I woke in a start to a noise that I realized was a paper Whole Food bag running down the hallway. Jack loves playing in paper bags. Somehow he must have gotten his leg in the handle and when running down the hallway with the bag along with him. It was quite a way to wake up.

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When Tara and I came home from being out this afternoon, we could not find him. I knew he could not have gotten out, and then realized he was in the pantry closet. Have must have followed me in when I put something away. He does not cry when he is stuck somewhere….. he did however claw at the carpet under the door. Poor kitty.

This evening I was in my room and heard an odd noise. Thought one of the cats had a hairball or something. I went to check it out and Jack sure did have a hair ball… only the hair was attached to Wes the Hamster. Some how Jack got him out of his cage and was carrying him down the hallway. It took us a couple minutes to get him to drop the poor thing. Bad kitty!

I have one more day off from work. I wish I had taken a full week. I only have to work three days until my next day off. It will not however be a day to relax. My mother and I are going to try and sell some stuff at a flea market being held by her church. I hope we sell enough to get our $25 back! We have so much stuff… people have to want some of it! Anyone want a Shrek bowling ball?

(Tuesday Morning)

Tara takes her last two finals today. This is the strangest end of school year ever. I honestly don’t know what we would have done this past week if she would have had to attend school. She emotionally could not have pulled it off! I’ve been in contact with her Dr. via email, and thankfully he feels I am doing all the right things!

So how was your week. Your kids must be done school, I think our district is the last one in the area to still be in session, but they must have gone back before Labor Day.

I’m linking up to Random Tuesday Thoughts and Talk to Us Tuesday! Do you have some randomness to share? Stop by and link up!

Stacy

Letters from Robin – Happy Birthday

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Dec 6, 1968

Dear Mom & Dad,

Sorry it’s been so long since I wrote last but we’ve been mighty busy. We’ve been running alot of night ambushes and out in the day looking for Charlie around Thunder. The other day we worked on APC (armored personalle carriers, or better known as tracks) for the first time since I was over here. Linda has a picture of Bud sitting on a track. They are really neat to work on. instead of walking we rode and they go through anything. They knock down trees and go through water and through mud. Not much can stop them.

Well I’m 19 now. I’m getting old and this army isn’t helping any. Not really, I don’t feel any older than I ever did. It was really some birthday. I walked all day with a full pack, up hills, down hills and through bush so thick we could barely make it through.

Tomorrow we have another CA. This will make about a dozen for me, and the platoon had about 11 when I came. That’s the way they work it, who ever is in the platoon when they get to 25 gets an air medal even if they didn’t participate in all 25.

You won’t believe it, but I lost Bill’s address before I got a chance to write him. I guess he’s home now so tell him I said hi. If he wants to write give him my address, but I don’t expect he will ever write me, he is usually too busy.

I’m sending a couple of pictures of myself, one of the guys has a Polaroid. The one where I’m sitting down was taken the day we worked with the tracks.

Well it’s getting dark and I can’t think of much to write about. Write whenever you can.

Love,

Rob

 

004Our local paper has been doing a series on the heroes from our area who lost their lives iy Vietnam. This was prompted by the visit of the Moving Wall later this month at a local American Legion Post. Today Robin’s story was on the front page. My mother, sister and myself were interviewed a few weeks ago. It was that interview that prompted my project to share these letters on my blog. They got his name wrong in the title of the article. I love our local paper and how community oriented many of the staff are, but they need better proof readers!

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Fragmented Virtual Friday!

It’s late… I’m just getting to my blog for the day (and actually not posting until 5:45 Saturday morning!)

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I have been highly anticipating 3 pm today, as it was the start of a four day weekend for me. One with no real plans, but some hope that some adventures might ensue!

I am actually home ALONE for the 2nd night in a row, this NEVER EVER happens! Tara and my mother gone at the same time! Guess, what, tonight, I’m LONELY! boo hoo! I usually LOVE being home alone!

This however, hasn’t been just any week!

Tuesday night at about 10:59, there was a terrible turn of events that threw this week all topsy turvy.

Tara’s best friend/boyfriend (he had just asked her to officially be his girlfriend earlier that evening – they’ve been BFFs for two years) was hit by a car while riding his skateboard home (to his dad’s) from our house. He was here from his mom’s home in NJ visiting his dad and Tara for the week.

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He was airlifted to CHOP in Philly. He has some serious injuries, surgery was required, he will have months of recovery, but in the end, if all goes well he should be good as new.

There are many more details, but Justin’s story really isn’t mine to tell!  We are just part of the ripple effect. I have know Justin for two years, I know he is the one person that has ALWAYS been there for Tara and they have a deep connection. I can’t help but care about him and his family as well!

For a 16 year old who has not experienced a serious illness, injury or death of a someone close to her, you can imagine Tara was and still is a mess. We are already battling panic and anxiety issues with her.

Fortunately he was up to a visit from Tara on Thursday.I was off from work, so we took a trip to CHOP. It was good for both of them. I’m always up for an adventure to Philly. Fortunately I’d never had to visit CHOP before. It is a pretty amazing (and huge) hospital. This is the hospital that the little girl Sarah, just received her lung transplant earlier this week after so much controversy.

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I’m am of course very concerned for Justin, his family, and Tara as well. My instinct is to want to do anything I possibly can to help them, but I am exhausted! What a way to met someone’s parents for the first time!

I’ve learned to ALWAYS make sure I have contact info for Tara’s friends parents. It is so easy to forget about that when kids have cell phones and are many times in contact with their parents while they are with friends.

I also was reminded that LIFE can change in an instant, we should take NO ONE and nothing for granted! This could have been so much worse, and I feared that it might be for a few hours!

So that was my week, how the heck was yours?

It’s time to virtual party with Ann!

I did have an awesome drink when we stopped at Red Lobster for dinner…If I had mint in the house I’d be making one of these babies now! (Note to self, buy a mint plant!)

Strawberry Mojito

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1 1/2 oz rum
1 lime, cut into quarters
several leaves of fresh mint
3-4 fresh strawberries
1 tbsp. simple syrup or sugar (You may double that. I like mine on the “less sweet side”)
Club Soda
Muddling the limes and mint for mojitos
Put the lime quarters and whole mint leaves into a tall Collins glass. Using a muddler or strong wooden spoon, gently crush the mint and limes to extract the juice and flavors. When the limes have been juiced completely, remove the spent quarters. Leave the mint leaves.
Crushing the strawberries into the mint and lime
Now add the fresh strawberries and simple syrup to the mint. Muddle again until the strawberries have been crushed. Add the rum and ice. Top with cold club soda, then stir and garnish with fresh mint or a lime wedge or a strawberry slice.

I’m sharing another Imagine Dragon’s song this week. I like this band! “It’s Time”

Now for the party game!

LOL, I’m “No carbs for me Barbie” when in reality, these days, although I should cut out the carbs, I’m more like “Have you Seen my Keys” Barbie (in fact, this morning I had to use my spare set, but apparently my other set were in my purse all the time!)

Which Barbie are you?

“Modern Barbie”
(Use the chart to find which Barbie you are. Use the letter of your first name.)A – C = Sunscreen Barbie
D – F = Is There Gluten In This?
G – I = Lactose Intolerate Barbie
J – L =  Do These Jeans Make My Butt Look Fat? Barbie
M -O = No Carbs For Me Barbie
P – R = Mini Van Barbie
S – V = Have You Seen My Keys? Barbie
W – Z =  Migraine Barbie

Remember, don’t take any minute of your day or anyone in your life for granted!

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Letters from Robin – Better in the Boonies

Another Monday off, and more rain! I’m glad I like rainy days! They make it easier to stay home and get things done! Unfortunately even with staying home I didn’t accomplish too much! I did get a couple more letters transcribe for future posts! I worked this past weekend, so I only have three days of work this week, and then I am off for FOUR! Tara is doing homebound instruction to finish out the school year, so it almost feels like summer has already started since I don’t have to get her up and drive her to school every day!

 

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This letter was about 2 1/2 months into Robin’s time in Vietnam. I did not remember reading this one before. He writes about looking forward to getting out of the Army and what he would do with his life. I have no doubt, had he been given the chance, he would have done something good with his life! Not in the monetary sense, but I am sure he would have made an impact on many lives. He never had that chance!

I normally include a scanned copy of the original letter. Robin wrote this one and one other in red ink and I am having trouble getting a good copy! Wi

19 Nov 68

Dear Mom & Dad,

How are you? Sorry I haven’t written sooner, but we’ve been on the move alot. I got a letter yesterday from you, the one with the pictures. They came out pretty good. I’m trying to keep them from getting wet. it hasn’t rained much lately.

This morning we chalked up another CA. We’ve been flying so much lately we just about know the pilots and door gunners by name. If we keep going at this rate I’ll have about 2 air medals by the time I go home, 25 CAs and I get an air medal. I’m getting so flying is almost second nature, but we still do our share of walking.

We’re back on Thunder now and doing the same things as before. Actually I liked it better out in the boonies. Out there your on your own, there’s no brass around to bother you and they’re not always thinking of little annoying things for us to do.

I understand that now the Army will pay for 4 years of college education, $130 a month is what it is I think. That’s a good deal, I just hope I can get accepted somewhere. You know my grades weren’t too great in high school. Even if I can’t get into college I’ll find something to do. There’s a million opportunities in life and there’s no excuse for anybody being a bum. I’ll always look back on my army life and be glad I served. I’ve learned more about life and people and now have a completely different outlook on the world.

You know that whenever somebody asks me how old I am, I ask them how old they think I am. Would you believe that they all say 20 or 21. I tell them I’m 19, there’s not a soul here that knows I’m only 18. It is pretty funny a 18 year old running a squad of guys anywhere from 19 to 24 yrs. old. Even Fred used to tell me I acted older than my age, even more so than Bill, he said. I guess this year over here will just about make me an old man. (ha, ha)

I hope you send plenty of film with the camera. I’m going to take a lot of pictures.

Well it’s getting dark, so I have to close now. Oh, by the way   the instamatic will be just fine. Another thing, if you can find a picture album send it to me. you know something small to keep these pictures I have in.

Love,

Robin

Speaking of medals, we have Robin’s medals framed and hanging in our living room. These were very challenging to photograph, so please don’t judge my photography!medals1

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Bronze Star with V device

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Purple Heart

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Good Conduct Medal

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National Defense Service Medal

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Vietnam Gallantry Medal

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Vietnam Military Merit Medal

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Today

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.
Kevyn Aucoin

I found this quote this morning on Facebook and I LOVE it.

Kevyn Aucoin was a make up artist and photographer who worked for Revlon, and ultimately worked with many celebrities. He believed that makeup was a tool for helping woman discover themselves! He suffered from a rare pituitary tumor, and died in 2002 due to complications.

Summer Saturday

I know it’s not summer yet, but it is really starting to feel like it. Not just the weather, but just that summer “feeling”!


Working today, working tomorrow, Monday off!

Saturday 9: Sweet Caroline

The idea for this came from Harriet, who suggested the baseball theme.
1) “Sweet Caroline” has been sung during every Boston Red Sox home game since the 1990s. (Click here to watch Neil Diamond lead the fans in the first game after April’s bombing.) Sure, I loved Neil Diamond and was a huge fan of his in my teens?

 

2) Do you have a favorite major league baseball team? Philadelphia Phillies are my team, always and forever, winning or losing!

 

3) Budweiser is the “official beer of major league baseball.” I rarely drink beer, I mean, I rarely drink, but if I were offered a beer, I would not turn it away!

4) Every season, more than a million Vienna Beef Hot Dogs are consumed by baseball fans at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. When you get a hot dog, what do you put on it?  Like beer, I don’t eat hot dogs often, but when I do, I either like chili, cheese and onions (Sonic makes a great Chili dog) or I go for all the condiments; ketchup, mustard, relish, onions!

Hot Dog at Phillies game

 

5) The odds of a fan in the stands being hit by a baseball are 300,000 to 1. The odds of winning the lottery are (approximately) 1 in 12,000,000. Do you play the lottery? As a group we play the Powerball when the jackpot gets high.

 

6) Though his song has been adopted by faithful Boston Red Sox fans, Neil Diamond was born and raised in New York City. Have you ever visited The Big Apple? Several times, Tara (my teen) and I took a day trip last June. I want to go back soon, on a COOL fall day!

 

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7) Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. For example, the Cubs’ Matt Garza eats Popeye’s fried chicken every day that he pitches. Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio touched second base with his foot every time he ran on or off the field. Do you have any superstitions? Not really! Tara does not like the number 13, but I live with a black cat!
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8) A ball signed by Babe Ruth can fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Have you ever asked a celebrity for his/her autograph? Not any huge celebrities. I did email Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys last year and asked if the five members could sign a book my mother has for her when she attended their concert! She got to go to their bus and they all signed it for her! Tara has MANY autographs of her favorite bands. These are not huge bands, but very popular in the genre she listens too

9) Baseball means summer and summer means sun. Are you working on a tan, or do you slather on the sunscreen?  I used to tan. Tanning beds and the real sun. We had a pool when we lived in Florida. Now, not so much. I wear sunscreen on my face every day, and honestly most days I really don’t have that much skin exposed! We sell SOOO much sunscreen during the summer at Walgreens!

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Let’s Get This Summer Started

VGNO Friday

It’s Friday night and time for a party! This week, Friday is my Wednesday again! I still have two days of work before another day off! At least I have MONDAY off, and next weekend I have a FOUR DAY weekend. I’ll be doing some VGNO partying next week! LOL!

The REALITY of my Friday night is; I’m drinking coffee from my Margaritaville mug, doing laundry,a watching a movie - The Numbers Station,( I like an occasional spy thriller) and I’ve got  ”girl movie” Safe Haven for later!

It’s raining cats and dogs, more like lions and bears! For us, Andrea is more of a rain event, not too windy!  Tonight is a good night to stay inside! Unfortunately our town’s First Friday event is rained out! It’s always a great time for the community to get together and support our downtown merchants, and enjoy good music and other activities!

I had a pretty good week. Tara’s homebound instruction finally started. She will have about 8 hours of instruction to make up for 3 weeks of school work. The tutor’s come to the house so she get’s 1 hour of one on one instruction for the four main subjects.

Next week will be crazy with Tara’s tutors and doctor appointments and I believe she will have to go to school at some point to take  two finals.Oh, and not to mention her bass lesson. I will be ready for the four day weekend once it’s all over! We also have a “family counselor” and a “child advocate” involved through the county who will be working with us through the summer. We probably will be meeting with one of them next week.

I am totally not, never have been one of those mom’s that thrive on lots of activities and appointments for their kids! I think Tara has been to see more medical professionals since April than she had her entire life!

So this really isn’t a party song, but one I just found tonight. My daughter hasn’t gotten int to this band, but one of her friends mentioned it last week. I love the name IMAGINE DRAGONS. The song is DEMONS. The lyrics are here.

For tonight’s party, I’m going to serve a Tropical Storm themed beverage!

Malibu Tropical Storm

  • 1 Part Malibu Rum
  • 1 Part Strawberry Liquor
  • 1 Part Apple Juice

As always, Ann our hostess with the mostess, has a party game for us!

Let’s play “The Name Game”
Use the first letter of your name to answer the questions. Your answers need to be real places, names and things. Share this game on your blog and ask your readers to follow along.  Happy Virtual GNO!
1. What is your name:   Martha

2. A 4 Letter Word:     Meow

3. A Boys Name:   Matt

4. A Girls Name:    Melissa

5. An Occupation:    Meteorologist

6. A Color:   Magenta

7. Something you wear:

8. A Beverage: MARGARITA!

9. A Food:    Mango (hmmm a Mango Margarita would taste good about now!)

10. Something found in the bathroom:   Mirror

11. A place:    Miami

12. A Reason for being late:    Melt Down

13. Something you shout:   Mama Mia

OK. It’s your turn! Share this Name Game on your blog and ask your readers to follow along.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Happy Virtual Girls Night Out blog friends!  I hope you had fun.  Link up and visit your fellow party guests – say “Happy VGNO!!!”

 

 

Night and Day

HuMp DaY Haiku button sunflower

Distant thunder rolls,
The fireflies flashing brightly
Lovely summer night

I’ve heard people say writing haiku’s is addictive, I think they are write. I tried it last Wednesday, and now I feel like I “think” in haiku, especially when I am outside! I love the early morning and summer nights. In the quietness of the dark, I feel I can hear Mother Nature more clearly. I wrote this weeks on Sunday evening around 9pm!

Wordful Wednesday

After a very hot few days (for May), we started Monday off a bit wet and stormy. I was off on Monday, so I totally enjoyed the rainy morning!,It turned into a nice day to be outside and I spent some time on our patio. Tuesday was even more gorgeous. Low humidity, high 70s, slight breeze, blue skies! I did however spend most of the day inside at work! I would love this weather 300 days a year!

The squirrels and birds have been very happy visiting the patio for peanuts and food! I try and keep them supplied! It’s like a big screen TV for the cats!

We’ve had a pair cardinals, blue jays, house finches, sparrows,Robins, mourning doves and a woodpecker. Most were not very cooperative for photos this week except this little guy! He even stopped and posed (begged) for me so I could take his photo! It’s hard to tell, but I think we have three regular visiting squirrels. One is getting pretty brave and will come within just a few feet of me when I am putting their peanuts out! .
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I hope you all have a great week, once again, Wednesday does not mean hump day for me, it’s just day two of six. I am looking forward to NEXT weekend when I will have a nice four day break!

It’s 4:44am, and the cats are acting foolish, they think no matter what time I wake up, (even though it’s still dark outside) that it is BREAKFAST time!

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Not All Wounds are Visible

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Did you know June is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Month? Neither did I until this morning when I saw the poster below on a Vietnam Veterans FB group to which I belong.

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 I also had a comment on my blog by one of the members of that FB group that broke my heart.

They tell me, having P.T.S.D. we shut off all feelings. After reading Rob’s letter I’ve proven them wrong: My heart was in my throat and water blurred my vision. H.W.

Two things in front of my mentioning PTSD in less than two hours made me curious to find out more about PTSD.

I know it is spoken of and diagnosed more now, with the soldiers returning from the Middle East and so many other tragedies happening around the world, but what about our Veterans returning from Vietnam, and earlier wars? PTSD was not even recognized as a disorder until 1980.

Many returning from Vietnam, not only had to endure and live with the memories of the things they saw and the things they did while serving, but they also returned home to angry crowds of protesters, a not so welcoming country. So many were rejected by their peers, and society in general. I read one account where the soldier interviewed was spit on upon his return. Thirty percent of Vietnam Vets are thought to suffer from PTSD. So many could not, and still do not talk about their time in combat, those memories are just too painful. Many turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the feelings. For Vietnam vets, as many as 3 of every 4  with PTSD have a substance abuse disorder as well. Far worse, about every 65 minutes a military veteran commits suicide (statistic from a study done from 1999-2010). 69% of these suicides were veterans over 50 years old.

I lived not far from Washington, DC from 1985-1990, and during that time I made many, many visits to “The Wall”, the memorial to those killed or missing in Vietnam. I choose to go early in the morning, generally on a Sunday, before the tourists arrived for the day. Most times it was me, some joggers or morning walkers, and Vietnam Vets who staffed tents to raise funds for veteran and POW-MIA groups. or those for whom the streets of Washington, DC had become their homes.

So many of these men had a sadness in their eyes that without words, told a story of how hard life was not only while they served but after returning home.I had conversations with some that were willing to talk, thanked them for their service and shared my brother’s story. Other Vets just quietly sat nearby. I can only assume that they felt some kind of connection to that hallowed place.

 Homelessness is another issue of vets suffering from PTSD. The symptoms make it difficult for those suffering to maintain relationships and hold down jobs. Statistics I found on the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans site show that 13% of homeless adults are veterans. If I am reading the data correctly, 50% of those are over 50, making a great number of those Vietnam vets.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOMELESS VETERANS (from NCHV.org)

  • 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans
  • 20% of the male homeless population are veterans
  • 68% reside in principal cities
  • 32% reside in suburban/rural areas
  • 51% of individual homeless veterans have disabilities
  • 50% have serious mental illness
  • 70% have substance abuse problems
  • 51% are white males, compared to 38% of non-veterans
  • 50% are age 51 or older, compared to 19% non-veterans

I love numbers and statistics, and the internet is full of them on this subject. Some differ a great deal, but the bottom line is TOO MANY of our returning veterans from all wars suffer(ed) from PTSD. This has lead to many other difficulties and struggles in their lives. These are the men and women who served bravely to protect our country, they deserved better futures than this!

Hopefully in coming years, the military will be better equipped to diagnose those with PTSD early so they can return home to their family and friends and live a full life after serving their country. Family awareness is necessary too to help their family members get the help they need.

 Better yet, there would be no more wars or conflicts that our country gets involved in but that’s a dream that I don’t think we will ever realize! 

PTSD does not just affect those who served in combat, anyone who has experienced a life threatening or other traumatic event can suffer from this disorder as well. The statistics are quite staggering. Unfortunately bad things happen every day, we can’t stop that, but we can be aware, and remember that NOT ALL WOUNDS are visible.

Letters from Robin – LZ Buff

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10 Feb 1969 Dear Mom and Dad, Well as of yesterday we moved off of LZ South, and once again the LZ is just another hill where we have been. W are now working off of LZ Buff, it’s a couple miles west of LZ South. It’s a much smaller hill but it has been here alot longer. Recon was working off this hill last August and early September before I joined the unit. We are no longer part of Russell Beach. The 198th and ARVNs are staying in the area. I had to stop for awhile and now I’m back. Us squad leaders just got our rear ends chewed by our E-7 platoon leader. (Our ? is on R&R). He has talks with us quite often and tells us what he doesn’t like and what he wants changed or corrected. Now I’m sitting up on the hill waiting to get a haircut. B Co. is on Buff with us and they have two barbers. They’re pretty good too. I haven’t had a haircut in quite a while and it’s starting to get long and it’s even starting to curl in the back. I’m glad to hear you got the other roll of film. I have my doubts about it turning out good though. Are you sending a copy of those 19 pictures from the other roll? There are some pictures in there I want to see. Tomorrow we are going off the hill just north of here to work the area. The only way to find out if Charlie is out there is to walk around and look for him. I have a real good squad, they aren’t afraid to get shot at but like me they won’t take any unnecessary chances. I do have one guy I am ashamed of, he acts like a baby but talks real big. If we ever run into trouble I don’t think I can count on him to help much. The weather finally cleared up. The sun is shining and it’s just the right temperature. One night last week the temp. went down in the high 40s, and last night it was really cold. When I went out on guard I was only out of my tent a couple seconds and I was sneezing. The weather is really weird. Well I’ll close for now. Can’t think of much to say. Take care and right often. Love, Rob

I wanted to share couple letters to the Editor of our local paper. now called The Reporter. The first letter was written the day of Robin’s funeral by his boss, mentor and friend Fred Seipt. Fred was and still is the owner of the farm on which Robin worked. We are still friends of the family. They have a flag pole in the parking lot of their dairy store/entertainment center that is now part of the farm business. This is in memory of Robin.The original flag that flew there was the one from Robin’s casket,it was stolen. The flagpole in the photo below is actually the second one as well. Superstorm Sandy brought the flagpole down under the weight of a very wet flag. I wonder what Robin would have thought of all the changes at the farm that have enabled them to stay in business as a family farm! (click on the photo to see a larger view.)

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This letter was written by my cousin Dean. Dean is a sergeant in our local police department. It was written in 1990 during the first war in Iraq. Dean was sitting near the park in which the Memorial Day ceremonies took place last week.

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Dean’s brother Kenny enlisted in the Air Force the same day as Robin enlisted in the Army. We spoke of Robin for the first time in years on Memorial Day. He still struggles with Robin’s death and his time in Vietnam.