War

Preface: My writing may be random...just my thoughts as the come to me.

"War. What is it good for, absolutely nothing...good god ya'll."

Well, anyone who knows history should know that war is inevitable. War is bad and war is good. Your life would be different if there was no war. Think about it. A lot of our technology has been derived from war because someone is thinking of new ways to kill people. I'm serious!

My brothers are in the Army Reserves. Drew has been to Iraq and back. Patrick was called up to go last Wednesday and he leaves for training this Thursday. I went home this past weekend for a visit because we don't know if we will get to see him before he actually goes over. It was a good visit. We did normal brother/sister stuff that Pat and Jessica do. Bond over movies and books and music. Goofy pictures are on the way.

When Drew left for Iraq I was depressed and had nightmares. I got to go to his farewell ceremony and that was pretty awful but I was very proud too. I'm very proud of Patrick too. They both signed up for the army, and even though it's been a hugely crappy deal, they are doing their jobs.

I respect anyone who has gone to war or has served in the military. Men have a mental capacity that I can't comprehend. I can't really speak for all women and their mental capacity but I can speak for myself in this respect. I don't know that I would be able to be in the military and fight for my life or for another's. My hope would be yes, I would do this for another. My mental capacity includes a lot of emotional drama with some logic and reason in there somewhere like salt and pepper...just for flavor.

What it boils down to is this. My concern is above all else my brother's safety. But I am concerned for his mental/emotional health. I will never know what all Drew has gone through but I know some of it and it is hard. I think he has become a better man because of it. At first I didn't want Pat to have to suffer what Drew has suffered but then I realized that everyone must go through some type of pain and suffering; some just go through more than others. This is what shapes us. If we never suffered, think of what life would be like. Purposeless, shallow and boring. We would never know what joy is. When it comes to suffering there are two options: give up or work through it. My prayer is that John Patrick Harris will work through whatever he faces in the year to come, learn from it and become a better man (or little brother, whichever the case may be).

Didn't say it would be easy...it never will be.

Pat is in the 603rd Military Police Unit.

That's all the time I have for now.

John Pat and Drew

Danger - if you meet it promptly and without flinching - you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!
Winston Churchill