I will, thanks. My saying he was a 'Nam vet just didn't quite cover it. It's the little things, as I said in the other thread. One never knows who they'll touch by an act of love, Coop, or how.
We live in a very small town, everybody knows everybody. Johnny helped get me through Christmas in boot camp last year- when I'd burst into tears in the post office, my heart so full for those knucklehead recruits. He knew I didn't want purple heart stamps for my son's letters, but understood when I wanted them in a mad rant (AFTER the election) for a letter I sent to someone about John Kerry. I don't know who those encounters were harder on, Johnny or me : )
We bought our oldest's (my Marine) first car from Johnny's youngest son. His youngest was almost sent to Iraq by the backdoor draft. It probably would have done Johnny's wife in, mentally. They were newlyweds when Johnny left for 'Nam. He and his family suffered much more than just the loss of his leg and suffered long after the leg was healed. I can't help but think about what it must do to his blessed lil' ol' hardened heart (and by association, his family) to watch this war and the difference this time. He was tender with me last year, but in general he is much less gruff, since last Christmas, no doubt about it.
It's the little things, as I said in the other thread, and when I began this post. One never knows who they'll touch by an act of love, Coop, or how.
Now I'm going, because it's much too early in the day to be bawling, and it's too late for that...
Thank you for what you all have done and are doing.
Just saw the update! I've been trying to write that post, and couldn't get it right for not being able to see the screen. 8,000 cards! How wonderful!
{{{{{ freema }}}}}