Dear Mom and Dad...

I can’t say I’m not scared, I am. At the same time I am proud
to be a soldier.  Proud to be defending what I believe in.
Maybe there was another way to do this, but this was
the way chosen, so here I am.

I miss you and hope to come home in time, but if I don’t
get back home I have some favors to ask.
Take my dog for walks and tell my little brother I love him and not to forget me.
My high school year books are in my room,
and maybe once in awhile you can get them out and look at the silly
pictures in them so you will laugh instead of cry.

It’s hot over here and the back packs we carry are heavy
but not too much to bear.  My birthday is coming soon and
no cake for me this year, but there are plenty of lights from
the bombs and gun blasts, so I’ll just pretend they are the
candles you insist on putting on the cake.
I’ll be nineteen and sure do miss all of you and my friends.

Is my old car still in the garage? Take it out once in awhile and
drive it so your hands will be touching where I held the steering wheel.
I know you don’t see the stars at the same time I do, but we can
still see the same ones, just at different times.

Mom do you have the garden started yet, and Dad, have you
started mowing the lawn? Too bad you can’t save
the mowing for me, but grass grows fast.
Over here it’s all sand and I sure miss
the smell of fresh cut grass.

Tell my girlfriend I love her, and hug her for me. Tell her
I’ll see her soon. Well Mom, I have to stop this letter because
I can hear the blasts getting closer so we have to do our job.
I’ll finish this when I get a minute away from the fighting.
Just in case I can’t finish it, I want all of you to know
I love you and sure will be glad to get home.

Gosh that one was close, so gotta go for now...

© Norma Marek ~ April 8, 2003

Dedicated to all the men and women who didn't get to
say their last goodbyes. May Gods blessings be upon each
and every soldier who gave their all in defending their country
and died for what they believed in.

 

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