Monday Recruits are here.

I walk into the building at 6:15 a.m. and there they are. Lined up in the hallway. They are young, male and female. Some have a vacant look in their eyes, some look scared, some arrogant. I pass by them and wonder how many will be here next year. Some are my son’s age and I wonder how many have mothers at home who are crying their eyes out, knowing they precious child will be in danger soon. You give them life and it is theirs to live. After a point you have no control of their actions. All you can do is pray and hope they they will follow a safe path. It is a very sad way to start the day, seeing these young people, the only true assets we have as Americans, going away to face the unknown, the awful truth of war.

I do understand their need to volunteer. I volunteered to support the Katrina relief effort. I put in long days in miserable conditions to help my fellow Americans. But I wonder, if these children were directed in another way, would they be here, volunteering to put their life on the line for people who probably couldn’t care less about democracy, for a people who are apathetic about fighting their own war? Would these people be willing to come to our aid?

I can honestly say I am proud that my son, perhaps from the direction I sent him, did not elect to perform military service. He is my only child and I truly don’t think I could survive the uncertainty involved in military service during war-time. I’m sure some would say that these thoughts are selfish.

As a child during the Vietnam era, I remember with a crystal clarity sitting at the dinner table, when families used to do that, and watching the CBS News with Walter Chronkite. “This is Dan Rather reporting from Vietnam (or Cambodia)”. He would be giving the daily body count, presenting video of young people almost my age in fire-fights with phantom assailants, soldiers screaming in agony after being shot or having their limbs ripped away by shrapnel. These images were burned in my brain. Every night. Like it was our patriotic duty to watch the carnage, to be a witness to it.

Several years later, as an employee of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I had the chance to attend a class in Washington, D.C. While there, I went to the Vietnam Memorial. I saw family members sobbing at the sight of the name of their dead loved one. I wondered, did this mother or father have a say in their child’s action? Did they approve of their son going to a foreign land to participate in a war? Were they proud of their child, all dressed up in his Class-A uniform? Surely they couldn’t be so naïve to believe all the bullets would miss their special child? That he could possibly not return in one piece. Not my child, he would never be in a wheelchair, or missing a eye, or brain damaged.

I’m sure all of this makes no sense to most people, but I just think of all this when I see those young people all lined up, so early in the morning, eager to get away, to have a new adventure. It really hurts me to see it.

Happy New Year!

Things have improved since my last post. My mom continues to recover from her heart attack. She has many worries, fears and obsesses about many things. She is old, fearful of the death that is coming, knows she can't do much at this point to improve her health, so she continues to sneak food she shouldn't eat, smoke, create family dramas, etc.

Had a great visit over Christmas. Spent time with my extraordinary son, Joe Ortiz, Jr., who continues to create ways to improve himself and his life. I am totally supportive of him and his efforts. He is so far past me mentally. What did I do to create this outstanding person? Sure, he has his faults, has a temper mainly, but his intelligence and maturity continue to impress me. He is returning to college which I truly hope he enjoys going back to school, after all, learning can be enjoyable.

Christmas day we went to see the Producers, and the day after we had breakfast together. Oh, how I miss him!

Still getting stuff out of the Graham house. Husband elected to sell the house in the country to accomodate me...otherwise I would have a 110 a day drive, minimum time was two hours each way. We are buying a 2/2 condo at Pacific Tower in Tacoma. I look foward to actually living in the same place and being married. Will post again after close.

Hurricane Deployment

It's been more than a month since I made a post. I was on my 28th day of deployment when my mother had a massive heart attack.

I had quite a time getting out of Mississppi, but I managed. My mom is home at her apartment now, shaky but alive. She had a stint implanted into an artery and hopefully that will keep her alive. She has a 70% blockage in a carotid artery but she is unsure if she wants surgery to correct it.

So this has been quite a month for me. I've had no internet access at my duty station. If I get home, as I'm schedule to do on November 2, 2005, I will make another post and fill you in on my travels to Hurricane Katrina relief areas.

Here I am in my hardhat at a debris it.



Pretty roadside display that survived the hurricane.

Perfect Summer Day

What a beautiful day this turned out to be. Talked my husband into coming to Seattle for the day/evening. He is a country person, I think he is intimidated, or perhaps bored, by the city.

Went to the NWFolklife Festival...caught a bit of bluegrass music but decided against waiting in the long lines for festfood. Took the monorail back to town and ate at the food court. Actually had a fairly tasty falafel sandwich. I didn't know the mall-like court existed. Not special but handy in that it is a couple blocks from my apartment.

Took a drive to the Alkai Beach area...which is apparently the place for kids to cruise and hang out. Pretty views tho. I couldn't imagine living there, too far from the city.

Here a nice photo of sunset at Alkai Beach near Seattle, Washington: