Veteran's Day

I just read such an amazing book that it literally brought me to tears. I just finished reading Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer. I love everything this author writes, Into Thin Air, Into the Wild, Under the Banner of Heaven, everything. This one is by far my favorite. This book is the story of Pat Tillman, the NFL safety on the Arizona Cardinals who left a multi-million dollar contract to fight in Afghanistan. At the start, we know that Tillman was killed by friendly fire in 2004. Knowing this, you know the story is not going to be a happy one, but it is an absolute page turner. I finished the book last night and was really and truly crying, hard. Little Man felt so bad he asked, "why are you sad, mommy?' I told him that my book was sad. He seemed so confused, "then don't read it, mommy, pick a different book." I told him that I liked my book and he could not understand how I could like a book that was making me cry, tears of sadness. He then went to our bookcase and brought over, God Few Tired of Us, a book about the lost boys of Sudan. Not exactly a good pick to make me less emotionl, another tear-jerker of a read, for sure. I cannot recommend this book enough. Not everyone will agree with Krakauer's politics, although I think many will. For the past 8 years I have intentional kept myself a little in the dark with the "War on Terror". I hate to admit that I was the person who put their head in the sand when I felt overwhelmed and powerless. During the last administration, I felt like all power was taken away from the people and I was afraid that the more I knew, the more enraged I would become. This book snapped me out of that fog. This book highlights just what a terrible situation our troops are in. I think it's apropos to think about all of the service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan today (and our vets at home) and just what a tremendous job they have in front of them. I have much respect for Pat Tillman's mom, Dannie Tillman. I think you will too. Of course, this book made me think about the world that will be waiting for my boys in 15 or so years. I hope it's a world where humans have learned to respect one another and the planet that we live on. We don't all have to like one another or agree with everyone's politics, but we must learn to respect one another and learn to live with our hearts full of love for something, anything, instead of consumed with hate. Maybe our kids will grow up and teach us all a thing or two. I certainly hope so.