Wednesday, December 6, 2006

INEVITABLE, paper mache and 8 legged freaks!

I talked to Gabe the other night.  He had spoken to Art first and then asked to speak to me.  When I got on he apologized.  'I tried to talk him out of it, but I couldn't.  He's already made up his mind.' he began.  I knew what he was talking about.  Art had made no secret about the fact that he wanted to join the Army upon graduation, and he wanted to be a Cav Scout like his older brother.  'But don't worry mom, if he joins, I'll re-enlist so I can keep an eye on him.' my eldest son said with all sincerity. 

Once upon a time it, when the boys were little it was assumed and in fact almost expected that the boys would all join one branch of the service or the other.  The boys spoke of being a soldier as casually as they would speak of being an adult, it was just the natural flow of life.  But that was then, in happier, peaceful times.  This is now.  Now being a soldier almost always means exposure to death and destruction.  I no longer expected my sons to join the military.  I feared it.

'If you're trying to make me feel better, knowing you'll be there with him, you've failed... and succeeded at the same time.  Thank you, I appreciate that, but selfishly I hope it doesn't come to that.' I said, not really knowing what to say, but feeling that I had to say something.  Truth be known I don't want either of them out there in harms way.

'I know, but I wanted you to know that... I will do EVERYTHING I can to take care of him.  I don't want him to see what I've seen, or to have to do what I've done.  I can't change his mind, so I'll take care of him and make sure he comes out okay.'  Gabe's voice broke a couple of times, and I knew he was feeling what I was feeling, the helplessness of the inevitable.  Art has already cut his hair, the wheels were already in motion.  All we could do was help where we could along the path.  Dickidoo remains silent, watching... waiting.  I see the father in him searching for strength in the soldier he was and will always be.  His strength held me up while Gabe was deployed.  I hope he can handle having two sons in battle because I already know I can't.  Art has one more year in High School.  That's not much time to achieve World Peace, but its definitely worth a try.

Last night I zipped off to the near by over priced grocery store to buy a bottle of dish detergent.  13 items later I walked out $27 poorer.  But not to worry because right on cue the cashier handed me a Buy One, Get One Free Always Clean Pads coupon and a Save $1.50 On Two Any Size Any Variety of TAMPAX® Tampons.  I might have decided right then and there never to shop at that over priced grocery store again, but the third check-out coupon ejected by the Coupon Wizard was for $2.00 Off On Any ONE (1) Yuban Coffee 11oz Or Larger.  Ah, coffee!  Thats what I'm talking about!  (Pity they don't litter me with coffee coupons!)  The Oompas are finding the whole Feminine Hygiene Coupon episode amusing and have taken it upon themselves to solving the 'what to do with all the women's monthly coupons' dilemma.  So far I'm leaning towards the paper maché piñata made of coupons and stuffed with tampons.  I could deliver it to the store with the following message:  Thank you for the tampon coupons, I finally found a use for them.  Please give me more, I have idea for a bigger piñata!  Worst case scenario: they will give me more coupons, but I suspect they will most likely cease and desist.

I visited the boy's downstairs bathroom.  As I sat on the Throne of Plenty, I noticed a large spider hanging off of a web in the corner by the door.  I guess its web under the toilet was just a little too close for comfort and it moved to a safer distance.  So there it hung, staring at me staring at it.  I laughed as I wondered what its 8 little feet were smelling at that precise moment.  The spider didn't share my laughter, it just hung there, staring at me with its 8 little eyes, pointing its feet at me through the silk fibers of its web. 

A few moments later, when I turned to flush I caught a glimpse of black from beneath the toilet tank.  I bent closer for a better view... it was a big black spider.  I spun around and immediately spotted the other spider by the door.  Ekkkk !  There were 2 of them!

ORKIN MAN, I NEED YOU!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, You have one year to find another eagle tail feather, like the one Gabe found before his deployment and I can always add another American Soldier/Son to my prayers list....Pride and Fear go hand in hand through a Momma's heart when one leaves the nest to fight for our freedom.....I'm so proud and honored and scared to death that another one of your babies is off to fight a war that seems to have no end in sight.

Love,
Kimberleigh

Anonymous said...

hugs...2 of them in the service??? sending letters to everyone for world peace!!!!
Becky

Anonymous said...

Yikes!  Bathroom spiders!  Arrrrghhh...

Oh Jody!  Two in the army... and you aren't checking yourself into a psychiatric ward or kidnapping them to Canada.  You are a fabulous mom... a mom we mom's can all look to for inspiration.  

be well... and know the boys are always in my prayers....
Dawn

Anonymous said...

  It seems to me that enlisting during wartime (or at least world unrest time) takes a stronger commitment and feeling of what is right than enlisting during peace time. Of course, they're teenagers, and believe they're immortal. I wonder how much many of these young men really understand about what they are signing up for.
  I also feel that your feeling that you would be happy and proud to be a mother to soldiers during peace time, but would rather not during war time is slightly on the hypocritical side. There is only one purpose for the military.
  I, too, yearn for a day when it outlives that purpose.
-Paul
http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/AuroraWalkingVacation/

Anonymous said...

I would have jumped in the toilet...lol
I hate spiders!

Anonymous said...

Did you hear about the Orgasm for world peace?  Go to Kas's blog for the details!  It can't hurt that's for sure!  Oh, bless you for going through all of this.  The picture at the top just makes me cry.  
Spiders ~ ::cringe::
Traci

Anonymous said...

(((((Oh Jody))))) I will still continue to pray for you and your boys! I still say Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you. You have amazing young men that want to protect us and our freedoms! I will add Art to prayer request at church.
I would have ran out of the bathroom-2 of them. OH NO! We have been having issues with mice, want to trade? We actully had a mouse at church on Sunday scurry across the curtain rod-Wanna see some southern women squirm?? Thats how ya do it - lol.
Michele
http://journals.aol.com/glensfork4/these-are-my-thoughts/

Anonymous said...

P.S. Where is the new Art's picture????
Michele

Anonymous said...

 2 things that would have freaked me out and had me screaming, spiders in the bathroom and both my sons in the service.  Pour a stiff drink  and hug your brave sons for us all.

                  Julie

Anonymous said...

It's hard being a mom.  One moment they are little children tugging at your heartstrings and the next fledglings trying their wings to fly away from home. Military Moms & Dads have every right to be proud of their kids and also to worry about their welfare.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to know that you are sending a loved one into harm's way, for the good of all.  I do hope and pray that this war will be over with soon so that all sons & daughters can home again safely. take care....Sandi