The Fourth of July 2013

The Fourth of July 2013

There have been many military memoirs written lately – stories of horrors remembered and hard-won glories. The sadness, tears and soil – both mental and physical that haunt generations of soldiers; the amazing thing is not that soldiers survive physically but that they survive emotionally or spiritually.  This is the true testament to human resilience.  For a woman who enjoys the escapism reading of fantasy, traditional mystery or romance – I also have read a fairly large amount of military non-fiction: “Unbroken”, “The Heart and the Fist”, “No Buddy Left Behind” and “Until Tuesday”.

The two books that have truly spoken to my heart over the past few years are “The Heart and the Fist” by Eric Greitens and “Until Tuesday” by Luis Carlos Montalvan.  One because of the hope that he saw in the world and his desire to make that hope possible and the other because he was strong enough to ask for help and with that help he overcame great obstacles.  Both of these men have accepted huge responsibility to become spokesmen for causes to help fellow veterans and I applaud them for their efforts.  Both of these are exceptionally well-written and very moving – also to those who listen to books, they are very well read by the authors.  So well read in fact that I listened to them with my children for I felt it necessary for my kids to hear these stories.  Excepting one anecdote related by a soldier in SEAL training camp about a cow on a highway in Florida which had some very soldierly vocabulary, my children enjoyed them both … they also probably enjoyed watching their mother blush explaining certain word choices too – so it was all good.

For me a book can be one of two things – escapism from the stress of reality or a catalyst to change the reality in which one finds oneself.  Both of the above mentioned books have changed my life for the better and for that I am thankful.

May you be blessed on this Independence Day – may your burdens be light enough to manage  and your friendships warm and supportive to make the burdens melt away!