A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF SUMMER

Self | June 12, 2002 | ohioWfan

[txrangerette]

Wow, oWf! Came indoors just now, really tired from mowing the yard. Complain, complain, yada yada yada... . THEN I FOUND THIS! Thank you for rearing your patriot son, and thanks for your fine piece of writing work, too. Now I have a question--does Eric resemble the dual nature of our very soft-hearted but one-tough-dude President W? If you've told us before, I apologize in advance.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Please tell Eric I said
"Thank You for your service to our country."

[Faith]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful tribute to your son. Surely one of life's most stretching events must be when a mother must watch her son go off to war. How desperately we want to pull them back and hold on to them so that they can be protected from all the evil that lurks "out there." He has left as a boy but will return as a man. God knows the pain that lingers in your heart. May He comfort you in the weeks to come and may your wonderful son be a blessing to you all the days of your life.

God, please bless each of our troops and the families who have kissed them good-by. Bless those who sacrifice so that our nation can be defended. Thank You for each one and may You hide them in the shadow of Your wings until these calamities pass. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[ohioWfan]

Thank you, WaterDragon!

[ohioWfan]

Thank you for your tears, and for your kind words!

[ohioWfan]

does Eric resemble the dual nature of our very soft-hearted but one-tough-dude President W?

Now that you mention it, there is a similarity.........sort of a Compassionate Tough Guy thing..........only 'Don't Mess with Ohio' just doesn't quite have the right ring to it! :o)

Eric's a lot like his Dad though, and there is definitely a similarity with the President there.

[ohioWfan]

Faith, your post brought me to tears..........again.

Thank you for your wonderful words of comfort, and for your prayers!

[ohioWfan]

I will tell him, Tonk. Thank you!

And I would like to thank you for your service to this amazing and wonderful country, and for all you do here at FR for our troops.

[WIladyconservative]

Bravo to you mom - great kid there! We have a child in our Little League whose dad is in Special Forces. We pray for him, and all our Armed Forces regularly.

Bless you all!

[ohioWfan]

Thanks, WIladyconservative!

When I thanked Eric and told him he was brave, he said "Well, lots of other people are doing this too." So I said, "Then they're brave too, aren't they?" and he just laughed.

[SuziQ]

I have been accused on this forum of not caring about freedom. This picture is my proof that this great country, and the freedoms it stands for, are worth more than gold to me.

Oh, Ohio, you got me so fahklempt!!And as for your detractors, how many of them have made the sacrifice you and your family has made? How many of them have willingly given their sons and daughters to the defense of this great nation? Maybe they ought to think of THAT before they start questioning YOUR desire for freedom and liberty.

You know all us 'Bush-bots' on the Dose and the Ladies and Gents of the Guild are praying for your family and for Eric!!

[ohioWfan]

I know that, SuziQ, and it means the world to me! I love the Dosers, Guilders, ATRWers and Canteeners! IMO, they are the ones whose opinion of me matters, because they are the real patriots!

btw, I took some German, but......fahklempt?? Do you mind translating? :o)

[reformed_dem]

How the tears are flowing..... Your Eric sounds like my Alex. He's only 7, but he is so sensitive too. He cries when we (rarely) raise our voices to him. He's my cuddle boy, still loves hugs and kisses and always tells me he loves me. It must be hard to let them go when they need to, and I hope I have that strength you do if and when the time comes for my son to do the same. I pray every night that there is still a world left for my children when they grow up. Thank you for sharing your story.

[txrangerette]

I kinda thought so, oWf! Now, let me substitute "tough- hombre" for "tough-dude"--so much more Texan(can't say why I failed to use it before!?!?!?), don't ya thimk?

[txrangerette]

thimk = think LOL! The Texas HEAT got to me--a scorcher!!!

[ohioWfan]

It must be hard to let them go when they need to

Hard......yes, hard. They go from those sweet little boys to strong young men so quickly.
Eric hugged me for a very long time last night, knowing at least a little bit how very hard it was going to be for me to let him go.

Treasure every moment, every tear, every hug with Alex. They are gone too soon. And maybe, because of the strength and commitment of our Commander in Chief, and the dedication of our men and women in the military, the world will be a better place when your Alex grows up.

[ohioWfan]

Much better, rangerette. Now do we pronounce that Ohm bray, or Ahm bray, to be truly Texan?

[dansangel]

Eric is very lucky to come from a loving family such as yours. You are very blessed to have a son as fine as he is.

I feel much the same way about my son-in-law who is in the Air Force. He seems so sensitive and fragile to me, but he has proven himself more than worthy to be a member of this branch of the armed services. We are all very proud of him as you are of Eric, but concerned for his well-being as only parents and in-laws can be.

God bless you, Eric and your family. May God keep him safe and may you be blessed with strength while Eric serves his country.

[txrangerette]

Ahm-bray, of course. Unless.......you're a Texan Hispanic?!

[ohioWfan]

Thank you, dansangel. Everyone who is serving in the military has someone who cares deeply about him or her, and is missing them very much right now, as I am missing Eric.

The feelings that I expressed about my son are multiplied by the thousands by others who share the same combination of pride and loss for their loved one who is serving this great country. Thanks for telling me your story.