In My Own Words

I just realized that August is halfway behind us, and I have been extremely remiss with my blog postings. It has been quite a month, but that’s no excuse.

Cheatham County has lost another of her heroes. Cpl Kristopher Daniel Greer, 25, Marine Reservist and Ashland City Firefighter, lost his life to an IED blast in Afghanistan. He leaves behind his wife and their precious 2-year-old son, along with numerous other family members, his brother firefighters, and a lot of friends. His funeral is Friday, August 20th. PGR is going to be escorting his body from the Nashville airport Wednesday, standing a flag line during visitation on Thursday, and again on Friday for the funeral. Then they will escort the procession to the cemetery for burial, and stand a flag line during the graveside service. I would really love to be able to participate; Jack and I are members of PGR, but don’t get to join many of the missions because of work. I’m going to try to at least be among the citizens lining the route through Ashland City as the procession travels from the airport to the church in Pegram on Wednesday. I’ll see if I can get Jack to put my flag back together so I will have it in hand as they pass, and I will wear my PGR t-shirt. If that’s the most I can do, I will at least have done something to honor our fallen warrior.

Our nephew lost his battle and went to be with the Lord on August 10th. Shawn, Paul, and I went to Illinois for the funeral this past weekend. It was hard saying goodbye, even harder knowing what to say to Sis, his mother. She gave up everything to stay at his bedside for 6 months, through all the ups and downs as he tried to overcome the injuries sustained in that horrendous automobile accident back in February. And I do mean everything. She lost her job, her husband (no great loss there, but a loss none the less), her home, and the greatest loss of all, her youngest son; her “baby,” Nathan Tyler Craig. He may have been 28 years old, but any mother will tell you that their “baby” is forever their “baby,” regardless of age or circumstance. Jack and I have offered her our guest room for as long as she needs it, to give her time to “decompress” and figure out what she’s going to do next. She’s going to have to start all over – I can’t imagine having to do that in one’s mid-50′s.

I’ve got to get busy supporting our Warriors full-tilt once again. I’ve got cards to make and send, letters to write, “stuff” to buy and pack and ship. I’m going to have to set up a bake sale or something soon to get some funds raised to support my care package habit. I’ve still got one order for two loaves of bread that I need to get made; it’s been so crazy hectic around here lately – Jack had to buy (gasp!!) store bought bread over the weekend while the boys and I were in Illinois for the funeral, so I need to bake anyway. The person who ordered the bread wasn’t in any hurry for it, thank goodness; she said “just whenever you are going to be baking bread, I want two loaves of Oatmeal Honey.” Maybe tomorrow after work…

Now I have to get up from here and hit the hay; I’m hoping it doesn’t hit back. I’m still a bit pizzle-sprung from the trip; I stayed home from work today and collapsed on the couch, I was so exhausted. Y’all take care, and thanks for reading my ramblings. Feel free to comment; it’s the only way I know anybody actually reads this stuff.