When my daughter was in Madagascar in the middle of a revolution, I would stay up till 2 AM to catch the BBC news that sometimes reported on it. The CIA and excellent people at the US State Dept. got her out with some serious cloak and dagger maneuvers. I cried when I knew she was safe. Cynthia, you find yourself doing normal things and then the next moment you think, Oh God, my daughter is in danger.
I'm so glad your daughter came home safely!! I have had that type of worry when my husband was in Afghanistan, but not for a child and I hope I never do have to experience that. It is ever-present and drapes a pall over everything.
Once, as he and a few others were about to walk out the door, a missile was lobbed right into the courtyard and blew right where they would have been in a few seconds. I couldn't rest after that.
We agreed that nothing would be sugar-coated. I wanted to know what was really going on, not “sheltered.” I didn’t want to be surprised. So, he had no obligation to keep it to himself.
@Lori Olson White, it’s very true. Not only am I learning about people and places, but you provide rich story telling frameworks for me to study and learn from.
In this day of instant communication where I can be driving in my car in the middle of WY while video chatting with family on the other side of the world, it is hard to imagine the agony of sending a letter and then waiting…and waiting…and waiting.
The days and weeks and even months of not knowing, the uncertainty, the worry - did the letter get lost or misdirected, had the person already read it and responded, or, geez had some tragedy struck that I won’t know about until it is too late? - would have been nearly unbearable. Yet, that was the norm and people survived.
Hell, my kids don’t answer a text right away and my heart starts pounding!
I like the way you slipped in some history on the Maine incident and the creation of the modern Navy. You probably wondered at some point whether this detracted from the primary story line. You succeeded. Glad it's included.
A sympathetic pespective on this military conflict in history. To view it through the perspectives of this young man is an effective way to pull this reader into the larger historical forces at play. I enjoy your writing (and haven't had much time to read this week!)
The heartache this caused Emily is hard to imagine. Just getting through daily life would be so difficult.
When my daughter was in Madagascar in the middle of a revolution, I would stay up till 2 AM to catch the BBC news that sometimes reported on it. The CIA and excellent people at the US State Dept. got her out with some serious cloak and dagger maneuvers. I cried when I knew she was safe. Cynthia, you find yourself doing normal things and then the next moment you think, Oh God, my daughter is in danger.
I'm so glad your daughter came home safely!! I have had that type of worry when my husband was in Afghanistan, but not for a child and I hope I never do have to experience that. It is ever-present and drapes a pall over everything.
When was he in the sandbox?
Once, as he and a few others were about to walk out the door, a missile was lobbed right into the courtyard and blew right where they would have been in a few seconds. I couldn't rest after that.
He should have kept that to himself. But then, sometimes you have to talk about it to get it out.
We agreed that nothing would be sugar-coated. I wanted to know what was really going on, not “sheltered.” I didn’t want to be surprised. So, he had no obligation to keep it to himself.
He was in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003 and again in Afghanistan in 2009-2010. He was at FOB Salerno in 2009.
That is a medical facility
Your stories make me love history even more! (I'm a history convert.)
Oh, @MamaCarole , that makes my little heart just pitter - thanks so much!
@Lori Olson White, it’s very true. Not only am I learning about people and places, but you provide rich story telling frameworks for me to study and learn from.
I'm hooked. Now I'm the one waiting to hear about Arthur
You’re a master of the craft. I feel like I need to sit an knit next to the wireless. 🧶
In this day of instant communication where I can be driving in my car in the middle of WY while video chatting with family on the other side of the world, it is hard to imagine the agony of sending a letter and then waiting…and waiting…and waiting.
The days and weeks and even months of not knowing, the uncertainty, the worry - did the letter get lost or misdirected, had the person already read it and responded, or, geez had some tragedy struck that I won’t know about until it is too late? - would have been nearly unbearable. Yet, that was the norm and people survived.
Hell, my kids don’t answer a text right away and my heart starts pounding!
Oh, I know... How many times have you stared at that rotation of three dots "…" while they typed and wondered what they were thinking?
Waiting? It's almost inconceivable now. Letters were all there were. Telegrams and phone calls were much too unreliable and expensive.
😂
As always, beautifully crafted and meticulously researched. Can't wait to learn about Arthur's fate.
I’m with Jane and hoping for the best for Arthur. Looking forward to the story follow-up.
Looking forward to reading what happens next. I hope I am wrong but I suspect it won't be a happy ending for Arthur.
Once again, your work Lori is stunningly crafted and thoroughly researched. I’m eager to find out what becomes of Arthur.
I like the way you slipped in some history on the Maine incident and the creation of the modern Navy. You probably wondered at some point whether this detracted from the primary story line. You succeeded. Glad it's included.
Thanks,@David, those kinds of decisions are the fun part. A nod to folks who catch it but not too distracting for those who don’t.
The whole series had me learning so much about this time frame and specifically this conflict.
I’m looking forward to Part 2 Lori. The waiting for news must been dreadful for this family
A sympathetic pespective on this military conflict in history. To view it through the perspectives of this young man is an effective way to pull this reader into the larger historical forces at play. I enjoy your writing (and haven't had much time to read this week!)