Amy's Place .. Poetry and Potpourri .. September 13 - 14, 2003

9-13-04 | JustAmy, St.Louie1, MamaBear, Billie

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Tulip! I had a good day, thanks. Good to see ya.

[Jen]

Peanut Day??? Did I ever tell you that my nickname in High School was Peanut? No kidding. hehehehe

[OESY]

Gosh, thank you. Let me try to play catch-up.

Your dad is indeed a wise man. And, your posting of "What is a Veteran" is right on.

There are some sights, sounds and smells that are so shocking, so repulsive, so disturbing that they leave an indeliable memory, forever associated with the event witnessed.

It could be the whimpering of the deer you hit with your car, the screams of those in severe pain, the silent images of people jumping to certain death from a burning building, the aftermath of a bombing with its twisted human wreckage and acrid odors, a mass grave with a bone protruding through the surface, a child's toy.

Most deal with the horror by not talking about it. The true heroes who have seen most everything in war will seldom say a word about their experiences.

I have have never seen combat. (My three years in the Army were in West Germany where I trained the footsoldiers who were levied from me each month for service in Vietnam, reducing my company from over 180 to under 100 within six months in 1967-68.) But I know many who served in combat, and I have the greatest respect for them.

As they attempted to cope with the realities back home, usually successfully, they all had one thing in common: a new sense of priorities -- about what was important in their lives, often starting with their families and their God.

Thanks for your service. That sounds trite, owing to the inadequacies of human language, but it is heartfelt.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Did I ever tell you that my nickname in High School was Peanut?

LOL!!! That's cute, well, you're cute too. :-D

[JustAmy]

And Thank You for your service, OESY.

[JustAmy]

Good evening, Peanut!!

Happy Jen Day!!!

:)

[JustAmy]

I missed this yesterday so .......

Happy Third FR Anniversary!!

We are happy that you are a part of our FReeRepublic Family.

[JustAmy]

Sorry I missed your birthday on Saturday.

A Belated Happy Birthday!!

Hope it was a great one.

[Alamo-Girl]

The picnics sound wonderful! I would love to be there!

[OESY]

Those were the days, my friend: the best of times and the worst of times, as every serviceman and woman in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere understand.

Some of those thoughts were communicated to the audience at the Veterans For Truth rally in Washington yesterday. I didn't see enough of the speakers to do an adequate review, but the outrage expressed at those who slandered our troops was palpable. Also, I found many of the stories told to be especially touching.

[JustAmy]

My youngest brother (Marissa's grandpa) served in the AF during VietNam. I don't remember where he was stationed but he was a technician on the planes flying over VietNam everyday. He does not talk about it, tho.

[Diver Dave]

Happy Peanut Day...

Peanut Day? It's Jimmy Carter Day?

Howdy Victoria.

[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

[Victoria Delsoul]

Peanut Day? It's Jimmy Carter Day?

LOL! We should call it Peanut Jimmy Day.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Peanut butter! I guess it's Jimmy Carter's day after all.

[NicknamedBob]

Proof of what I'm trying to say in post 47, can be found on post 48.

Now that's poetry.

[Terabitten]

I'm doin' great - how're you?

[Jen]

We are happy that you are a part of our FReeRepublic Family.

Awwwwww, thank you Amy. I'm proud to be a FReeper. Has it really been three years??? Wow! Time flies when you're FReeping!

[Jen]

Hey Victoria!!! So good to hear from you.