• About
  • Book Excerpt

Letters

~ I Resign the Masquerade ~

Letters

Monthly Archives: May 2012

You Know You’re a Hero When the Rest of the World Calls On You to Save Them

27 Sunday May 2012

Posted by lettersfromawhoremongerswife in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Star Spangled Banner, W. Houston

 

It was 1967-1968, I had learned to read the year before. Every night I made certain I was sitting cross-legged on the floor, in front the black and white TV, just before the end of the evening news. No one asked why I had suddenly become fascinated with the news. Perhaps they knew, having seen me hold my breath while I watched, unblinking, as the names scrolled down the screen. I was watching for two names, my Uncle William Darby and my second cousin Henry Benefield. Both had been drafted, one stationed in Germany, the other Vietnam. To a little kid, it was all the same. They were in The War.

The War created a war of emotions within me, feelings I didn’t always understand. I had watched news clips showing the horrors our boys were experiencing. I had seen the numerous names of dead soldiers on the screen. And the names of the Missing In Action. I had felt helpless as I heard my aunt crying and watched my cousin’s sister pace the floor. I had heard the adults around town speaking in hushed tones:

“…prisoner…tortured…he’ll never be the same”.

“Lord have mercy, he was so young, just a boy…”.

“They say they’re all coming back changed…”.

“….saw his buddy blown up right before his own eyes…oh Sweet Jesus, help him”.

“His Mama lost her mind when she got the news…”.

I couldn’t bear to think of my two handsome relatives dying in a jungle, or perhaps worse, being held captive and tortured. So I watched the news, not understanding how things worked. I believed if I were the first to see their names, I could break it to the family in a better way than a telegram or a stranger in a dark car could.

Pride was a new emotion flourishing in my soul. I remember being very proud of William and Henry. And another feeling, Pride of Country. I didn’t know what to call it or even what to think about it, I just knew anytime we sang the Star Spangled Banner or said the Pledge of Allegiance, my heart seem to beat faster. My breath would catch in my throat. Sometimes tears would swell in my eyes as older school mates reverently raised and lowered Old Glory each day. I was proud to be an American. Still am.

In 1967 I was too young to understand the military, Patriotism, or the business of manufacturing. So when I finally received the new pair of Keds I had waited an eternity for, and noticed Made In The USA stamped into their soles, I was crestfallen. I didn’t want to wear my new sneakers. As I saw it, there was a definite correlation between the military and the USA. And in my little girl way of thinking, if I wore the Keds stamped with USA on the rubber soles, I would be stepping on William and Henry as well as the United States of America and every other person in the military. I couldn’t do it. And I didn’t. Until Mama made me.

“We don’t have money to throw around like that” she said. I couldn’t articulate my feelings and even if I could, I wasn’t permitted to argue with my parents, so I wore the Keds. But not without whispering, “I’m sorry” as I slipped them on my feet.

Thankfully, William and Henry made it home. In the years since, I haven’t seen much of Henry, he’s sort of kept to himself over the years. William and my aunt (My Madea) raised a beautiful family and celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last August, a month before the 45th anniversary of his induction into the United States Army.

This Memorial Day, I would like to say Thank You to everyone who’s ever served in the United States Military, especially the ones who never came home.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Print
  • More
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Mama

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by lettersfromawhoremongerswife in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

 

Her day begins and ends with thoughts of you.

She’s the only person in this world capable of loving a person before meeting them.

Others make claims of it…but she’s the only one who really understands Love At First Sight.

She’s the only person who’s known you your entire life, really. And to her, it seems she’s known you always… felt you with her, since the beginning of her own life.

She would give up her life to save yours.

Your laughter is her favorite song.

When your heart is aching, hers is breaking….for you.

Your happiness brings her more joy than anything else in life.

If you’re fortunate, you’ll watch her grow older…but you won’t realize she’s aging. Neither will she.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms… especially, Mama.

A favorite Mama memory…http://youtu.be/Cf398VgHIO4

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Print
  • More
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

About

Recent Posts

  • The Strategy of Death
  • If I Could Speak With Janay
  • Save the Other Coopers
  • Mr. President, What Are You Reading?
  • Why Did You Stay?

Book Excerpt – Letters From A Whoremonger’s Wife

  • About
  • Book Excerpt

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,103 other followers

Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest

Archives

  • July 2016
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
May 2012
M T W T F S S
« Apr   Jun »
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Danita Clark – Author

Danita Clark – Author

Blog Stats

  • 563,168 hits
NetworkedBlogs
Blog:
Letters From A Whoremongers Wife
Topics:
Relationships, Divorce, Adultery
 
Follow my blog
Follow Letters on WordPress.com

Danita Clark, Author

Danita Clark, Author

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: