You risk your life
    in service to others...
In the military
     policing our streets,
         guards by our pool....
No thought of self
    or personal cost....
Often not realizing
    how often you touch the lives of others.
For those of us lucky enough
   to be your Mother, Father,
         sister, brother
           husbands, wives
                 or simply lucky enough to call you friend...
The gravity of what you do-
    often weighs heavy on our hearts and mind.
You would be dearly missed- should the unthinkable
    result in worst coming to pass...
Please know -
   You have our respect...
And you would leave an unfathomable hole
    In our lives
          and in our hearts!

When you came home successful
from Marine boot camp-
Many asked-
"Have you seen a change?"
Earth shattering, mind blowing
phenomenal catharsis?
In a word - no.
What I'm seeing
are a series of subtle, simple changes....
An appreciation
of my dinners
          (thrown together in haste)...
A respect for those
who have survive the day to day...
A realization that
the worlds owes you NOTHING...
It was here long before you
and will remain long after you are gone...
You are not entitled to anything -
except your own talents
       how you apply them
The application of these talents translate
          into the success you earn....
Has he changed?
not drastically....
But he has taken one giant step
    from boy
          to man.....
A step many men have yet to attain...

Where do you find the inner strength-
needed to hold your ground
in the face of rising
opposition?
When every fiber of your being knows
what you do is right and just
and must be faced
alone...
What must be done - is at great cost-
loss of family, employment
respect of some peers
your life?
The paths diverge in polar directions
one safe, secure -the other
wrought with pain and
the unknown...
Crossroads....
    decisions
         trepidation
               and yet -
"The unexamined life is not worth living"  Socrates

The death of a relationship,
is often for the best.
It doesn't feel like that
-at first.
First comes - fear
confusion
anger
hurt.
If there are children
protecting them
from the inevitable fallout...
Rebuilding your life.
Learning to trust.
Avoiding the trap
of stereotyping all
with the characteristics of one.
Not allowing anger
to grow into bitterness.
Yes - the path is new
unknown
but
It does get better
The pain isn't in the future-
you are leaving it in the past.
Celebrate!
And know this
if you don't know anything else-
I am ****** glad
you are gone!

The problem with being
-perceived as strong,
Very few have shoulders staunch enough
-for me to cry on.

The brightness of the sun
and the clear blue sky
are just as they were
when you said goodbye...
That day - full of hope
and endless possibilities
Shattered as you walked away
leaving me devoid of dignity....
With you went
all I cherish deep inside
An empty hole
where you once reside....
      Pain amplified
            that awful word- goodbye....