Sleeping with Steel - Freedom Edition

Some people need a special day set aside to remember the troops.  Those that give their lives in the line of duty certainly deserve a national holiday - and more than people can ever repay them.

I never really understood what 'they' said when people said that "The family serves too".  In fact, I truly think it's impossible to comprehend what it's like to be on the end of this stick without, well, being here - and that's okay. Not everyone is meant to be a military member or spouse. Every life has value, no matter what occupation or relationship status is involved.

I'm as equipped as I can be to finish Murph tomorrow at a new crossfit box. I've been there before, but I'll be sweating it up with a whole new group of people that I'm at once anxious about and excited to get to know.

I'm guessing there are pretty good odds that I'll be the only submarine wife there. It's an exceedingly rare breed that can embrace the Submarine life style.

My Sailor had hoped to do this with me, but that's not possible. In many ways, Memorial Day is more challenging than major recognized holidays are. It's easy to get lost in the rush and the hustle of Christmas and the like, but Memorial Day is set aside specifically to honor the empty chair at the dinner table... 

No matter how you feel about politics, war, peace, our current world leaders, or the military at large, there is someone like me out there missing a son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, or other relative due to the cause of protection. It's a human dilemma that's impossible to separate from the situation. 
I'm one of the lucky ones.

I have every confidence that My Sailor will make it back to his seat - eventually.  I push away nearly every other possibility, but days like Memorial Day bring those back-burner thoughts into frontal-lobe crystal clarity.

As much as I'm anxious for the day to come, I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to plug into the community and do something in honor of Murph, and all of those like him who have passed before.

So before Memorial Day slips away - take time to remember.