Comments on: Very Disappointed http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/ This We'll Defend Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:03:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Bou http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-495927 Bou Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:23:16 +0000 http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-495927 I was born while my Dad was in 'nam. He deployed off and on, 6-9 mo intervals until I was probably 12 (no more 'nam tours after age 2). I remember when he started to deploy again when I was AA's age. Girls of the more dramatic, I remember throwing myself at him frickin' BEGGING him not to go, crying. And he would stoically say, "He had to", afterall, it was his job. As a parent now, I look back and really knowing my Dad as a parent/human/real person and not 'Dad who carried the world and never cringed', I think how it must've crushed him to close that door behind him and walk out to his car. I regret now my actions as he left. I wish I could've been more like Castaway Connor. As an adult now, when someone leaves my life, I try to be very stoic, and show not what is in my heart. Lessons learned from childhood. I was born while my Dad was in ‘nam. He deployed off and on, 6-9 mo intervals until I was probably 12 (no more ‘nam tours after age 2). I remember when he started to deploy again when I was AA’s age. Girls of the more dramatic, I remember throwing myself at him frickin’ BEGGING him not to go, crying. And he would stoically say, “He had to”, afterall, it was his job.

As a parent now, I look back and really knowing my Dad as a parent/human/real person and not ‘Dad who carried the world and never cringed’, I think how it must’ve crushed him to close that door behind him and walk out to his car. I regret now my actions as he left. I wish I could’ve been more like Castaway Connor.

As an adult now, when someone leaves my life, I try to be very stoic, and show not what is in my heart. Lessons learned from childhood.

]]> By: AFSister http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-493612 AFSister Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:13:25 +0000 http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-493612 ouch. AA's not even my son, yet I felt that blow. He's old enough to miss you, still not old enough to really understand what's going on, and old enough to know that if you retire from the Army, you won't have to deploy anymore. I know he's proud of you, Hook, he just misses his Dad. *hugs* ouch. AA’s not even my son, yet I felt that blow. He’s old enough to miss you, still not old enough to really understand what’s going on, and old enough to know that if you retire from the Army, you won’t have to deploy anymore. I know he’s proud of you, Hook, he just misses his Dad.

*hugs*

]]> By: Mrs G http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-487560 Mrs G Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:35:17 +0000 http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-487560 Been there many times, usually when it's time to move and the many TDY's Greyhawk has been on. I feel for you. Kids always have the best aim when shooting at the heart. Our kids are older now so the retirement subject doesn't come up as often, since they know where their college money comes from ;). They can understand better as to why he volunteered to go downrange (both times), and are proud, but that doesn't stop them from expressing how unfair military life is and the many disappointments that come with it, 2 deployments, 5 TDY's, many missed birthdays and holidays, 9 moves and 7 schools later. I'm sure when Greyhawk returns home from Iraq and our time at this assignment is up he will finally throw in the towel. It will be bittersweet but time. When you decide to retire, Greyhawk and I will raise our glasses to a great career and the military's loss. Been there many times, usually when it’s time to move and the many TDY’s Greyhawk has been on. I feel for you. Kids always have the best aim when shooting at the heart.

Our kids are older now so the retirement subject doesn’t come up as often, since they know where their college money comes from ;). They can understand better as to why he volunteered to go downrange (both times), and are proud, but that doesn’t stop them from expressing how unfair military life is and the many disappointments that come with it, 2 deployments, 5 TDY’s, many missed birthdays and holidays, 9 moves and 7 schools later.

I’m sure when Greyhawk returns home from Iraq and our time at this assignment is up he will finally throw in the towel. It will be bittersweet but time.

When you decide to retire, Greyhawk and I will raise our glasses to a great career and the military’s loss.

]]> By: Teresa http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-486686 Teresa Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:01:40 +0000 http://sgthook.com/2007/10/21/very-disappointed/#comment-486686 Thanks Michelle - easy thing to do. And difficult to make understood in comments... on both sides :-) Thanks Michelle - easy thing to do. And difficult to make understood in comments… on both sides :-)

]]>