Van's Christmas 2007 - Page 10 - ThinnerTimes

sdgrrl · 03-07-2008, 08:13 AM

Oh, Trina...
How utterly agonizing! I can't wrap my head around how horrid it must be for him, so young and gentle. With you as his Mom, I'm sure he is kind and sweet, and to so cruelly snatch that away from him like that is really a crime. I bet he joined up with ideas of 'saving democracy' and 'helping people be free' and the rest of the Repub....... never mind! Sorry to VPA and the rest of the good people who support the ideas purported by the Elephant party.....everyone who knows me will tell you how much I love elephants!

Anyway, I am sending the strongest energy I have over to the sand box--for you, for VPA, for ANYONE who has a loved one over there--that they are able to come home really soon, and that they avoid the bite of the bullet and the pain of anything worse.

One other thing I thought I'd mention. My dad was in Korea. He was in the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles". It was this division that was later turned into the 'Green Berets.' My dad was a parachuting medic and would drop from the sky to rescue his comrades and get them evac-ed to safety. He is now 75 years old and STILL suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. He's too much 'of a man' to bother the VA with stuff like night sweats, horrid nightmares, and the complete inability to discuss it with anyone else.

He was an utterly crappy dad. He was so scarred by Korea that he was unable to have any emotions (except anger, of course) and refused to believe there was anything wrong with him. He is/was such an emotional cripple that it cost him my relationship with him and my mom's relationship with him. She hung in there as best she could, until his behavior was too extreme and she divorced him after 25 years of marriage. He has become an alcoholic and a sex addict.

Please, everyone who has a loved one in the sandbox, encourage them to take advantage of the counseling afforded by the VA. It will be vital down the road as they return and attempt to pick up their lives after they see what war is really about. My heart goes out to all those over there and I wish that they come home unscathed in every way.

Trina, as a mother, and VPA as a wife, I am sending you gentle, protective cyberhugs to get you and your families past this terrible, terrible test of your families' fortitude. Give Shad and Randy hugs from me also when next you see them. I understand the pain. My dad still to this day will not discuss the war and the things he saw and experienced in Korea. I'm so relieved that Shad and Randy have such strong, loving women to help them through what will be lives forever changed.

I love you both and respect the sacrifice you all have made. I want them to come home for good last week! Bless your hearts, and bless theirs, too! And that goes for anyone who has a loved one over there.

AlabamaChick · 03-08-2008, 07:08 PM

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and just plain ole comfort when we need it. I spoke with Shad again this morning and he sounded much better. He has been put on another detail and he is not in an escort for the commander. So, he gets to escort the big dog around every day. Hopefully, this will keep him out of the horrible areas for a bit so he can regroup. It was nice to hear him sounding better.

Amy, I can understand where you are coming from about Ran standing on the bed. After Shad came home from boot camp, he had a little to drink and went to bed and I heard this horrible noise and went to his room and he was lying on his bed with his eye wide open like he was wild inside and lying stiff as a board on his bed like he laid in boot camp and he was asking permission to reposition and he would do everything he did with a really fast snap. I don't see how he moved his body so fast! I became scared when I went to check on him after not hearing anything from him in an hour or so and found him asleep on his back with my other son's HUGE hunting knife clinched in his teeth. James had to ORDER him just like a military officer would to give him the knife and then Shad asked permission to sleep and he FINALLY went to sleep. That was a long night for me. I didn't close my eyes one wink. The next day, he remembered nothing about it. Some people just don't realize what our guys go through, even in training, to protect our country. Needless to say, he will NEVER drink another drop around me! I don't ever want to be that scared again.

I am just happy that he's doing better now. Thanks again for all the support. I love you guys......

Amy, any update from Ran? We need to know when you talk to him and how he's doing. I'm proud of you sweetie....you are amazingly strong. (((((HUGS)))))

MiladyB · 03-08-2008, 07:16 PM

Sweetie, so glad to hear that you got to talk to Shad again and that he is sounding better. I really don't know how you and Van are doing it. I guess you find the strength you need to, eh? I just wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts often. I know things are hard for you right now in more ways than one but you have alot of people that are holding you and Van in our thoughts and prayers....you both are very loved. I hope you know that.

{{{{{{Trina & Van}}}}}}

CiCi · 03-18-2008, 01:05 PM

Van, as always, you take my breath away! You are gorgeous! Your family is absolutely beautiful! It's been a while since I've been on the boards, but I had to stop and post... stunning little pixy!

VanessaSFL · 05-02-2008, 07:35 AM

Well, I will update the exciting part first...Ran will be home for 96 hours.He arrives on Mother's Day, very unexpected but freaking awesome.We have not made any plans..he has Dr. Appointments on every day that he is here.He needs all of his overseas vaccinations updated and blood work and dentist.He aslo has an interview/investigator(possible new employer) coming to the house for a meeting.The "interviews" remind me of "Men in Black" and freak me out every time I see them.

The interview leads me to the sad news, well for me, not Ran. He may switch contracts..the contract is deeper into Afghanistan and MORE dangerous than what he is currenty doing.Ran is excited and I support him.The contract, which I know very little about and I am not privy to any information for safety reasons, will be longer than a year with no returning to the states.
Less communication would follow...It makes me sad but this is Ran's DREAM JOB.He is Nomad and I knew this before we married.His need for action boils inside him.He is truly his happiest in some of the worst situations imaginable.

So I support him.

Update on Nick~ Doing good, getting a little mouthy but Mama don't play that game.He now has underarm soft black hairs sprouting ...I swear he is growing into a MANCHILD before me eyes.
I could have knocked him into next week...the other day...Ran and I played phone tag for hours dealing with his plane ticket to the states.We lost contact on his end and no communication transpired for two days.I asked Nick if Dad had called?Nick said, Yeah, you just missed him, we were talking and , I heard gun fire and the phone went dead"

Randy called me the following day , His cell phone battery had died!!!!!

I came with in two hairs of beating Nick...Yes , I said Beating him.

Anyway, all is good and I will take lots of pics and have tons of sex too

(but not of me having sex..lol)
Thanks for your continued prayers...I am so flipp'n excited...Woohoo

Toony · 05-02-2008, 07:52 AM

You are too funny! And you are AMAZING to be so supportive of such a dangerous profession for your honey! I'm sure we won't see or hear much from you while he's home, but we know you'll be up to NO GOOD!

Enjoy sweetie, you sure do deserve it!

Katie

(another TT baby in 9 months?)

CiCi · 05-02-2008, 08:10 AM

So excited for you, Van sweetie! Love him up & down and store the memories up top for later. You are a wonderful, supportive wife and he is lucky to have you.

Duckie · 05-02-2008, 08:41 AM

YAY! I'm so excited he's coming home!!

Make sure you pluck those misplaced pubes before he gets there!

I know how hard it will be for you if he gets this "dream job" but you know in your heart how much it means to him. We will all be here for you while he is away.
I love ya hon.
hugs,
Duckie

Grammy O · 05-02-2008, 09:58 AM

I am happy for you Van! Enjoy your time with Randy, as I know you will. You don't have to be told ha?

You are such a wonderful wife, to support your Ran as you do. It must be real difficult. You are a strong woman Van.

Have fun, play, play, play for those 96 hours!!!!!

Cinerbelle · 05-02-2008, 10:42 AM

BOW CHICKA BOW BOW!!