alliecat8 | Jul. 4th, 2008

It's no secret that I'm on the outs with my husband. But I did go to his retirement ceremony from the U.S. Air Force last month, and I pinned the retirement badge on him just like I did his pilot's wings 22 years ago. I HATE war, but for the last 23 years I've been married to a soldier. On the plane ride back from the Northwest two days ago, I sat next to a good-looking man who had no legs, only metal prosthesis...but he had more than enough soul to make up for it. He was on his way home from trying out for the disabled Olympic ski team. Five years ago he lost his legs in Iraq; tomorrow he will celebrate his second anniversary of being out of a wheelchair, and two days ago he stood up all strong and healthy and hefted my carry-on bag into the overhead bin. He showed me pictures of his three kids (two born since his return to the U.S.) and his wife, and at that moment I was proud to say that I was a military wife, too. Today I just wanted to say, on our Independence Day: if you can reach a soldier, hug him/her. And if the spirit moves you, pass this on.

http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/Impish_Dragon/?action=view¤t=Untitled.flv