Reply #25: How much for the leetle gurl? [View All]

Whmmmm? She is so cute I MUST have her :) move back to the US so I can babysit that lil sweetimous..

Ben will be fine, most of the people I knew that got smacked down in Nam were basically unaware, no style, no "spider sense".. From what I can tell from you and from the pic of him he's got the good common sense to get the fuck OUT of the way and pull someone with him as he goes..

He'll be back with a chest full of medals, but he'll have aged - my cousins were a lot "older" when they got back, war matures people pretty quick, and they DO train you y'know? I got trained to kill when drafted in 1971, never had to do it, but know how and wouldn't have hesitated if needed. I had told my pals if I got sent to Nam to STAY behind me, that anything that moved in front of me was going to get it, a leaf, a moth, anything.. total survival mode.

And you know what? Of all my pals that came back said that was exactly WHAT they did.. they separated the nice friendly part of their brain from the lizard layer and instinct, and it worked.

Some wake up in a cold sweat with nightmares, others I know aren't bothered at all, most compartmentalize that part of their life and don't talk about it, they leave it where it is..

But he'll still be Ben and he'll still love you and Peyton, and how much gladder could you all be when you see each other.

You're so lucky to have had him around when you went through the breast cancer, I lost my mom to that when I was 16 and it took her about 5 years to die from it - I've got big holes in my memory from that period and I feel guilty for not being there more for her, but I forgive myself for being a Teen and not having much empowerment or capability.. he done good, and he'll do good now and then it will be GOOD when he's back :)

We should talk about creating an alternative venue besides ANSWER, I've been thinking that Takebackthemedia.com should get involved, as a vet I want to make sure everyone stays on MESSAGE so we can get this war over and get YOUR son home and make sure MY 19 year old doesn't have to go too..

So don't you worry, Ben's smart like you, he'll be fine - it's not really an ARMY OF ONE, he's surrounded by support..

Hope all's well with you and the lil punkin' Peyton, she's a keeper :)

Love from all of us,

Sym