Before I met Tim, I never really thought about the men and women who fight to serve and protect us; our basic rights and freedoms. I had never known anyone who was in the military and , being Canadian, I had the luxury of living in a very safe and equitable country. Sure...we occasionally complained about the cold weather and the shenanigans of the gov't and...but...I took all of my freedoms for granted. And then 9/11 happened. In a moment the world shrank...became very dangerous and nonsensical. But still...we were Canadians and somewhat removed from it. Of course I was aware of multiple wars and world events but ...I was largely untouched; I had the luxury of idealism. Then...years later, I met Tim.
(Tim and I visiting his father's grave-Arlington National Cemetery)
Shortly after we married Tim deployed to a war zone...and my heart went with him. All of a sudden...I was thrown into this whole other world. Should I watch the news or should I not? I became slightly frantic. Ideologically, I did not support the war but...I supported my husband. A contradiction I know but I strongly believed in both. It was a difficult time ...I just wanted my husband to come home safely. As a career Marine he has seen and experienced things I can never know. Yes, he has his arms and legs but...the scars of war are there...deep and mostly hidden. He is my husband and...I know. Tim, like all these men and women who give up so much of themSELVES, is a hero...although he would be the last one to acknowledge it. I could list all of the qualities that I fell in love with but...it can't adequately describe his character and heart. 
** I am well aware that my last post was about Zen and this one is about soldiers and war. But this is my life...this is my family and we try to balance out our differences as best we can and learn from each other...always keeping sight of what is truly important.