To all Veterans - Thank you.

[wpadmirer]

Yesterday, a co-worker and I were taking about 500 envelopes (some of them were large manila ones containing certificates. All were galloneer recognitions. We completely filled the mail pick up box and had to bring some back inside and put them in to go out today. I mean, we FILLED the box. But we were very, very quiet about it, just in case

Comments

[turquoise9]

[wpadmirer]

Yeah, it means more money for the NHL and the teams, but it totally fucks over the fans. (sigh) I'll be watching a lot less hockey this year.

[beauty_forashes]

Woah that's a lot of mail! How's Pat feeling today?

[wpadmirer]

It was crazy! We couldn't believe we'd filled the box! That's why we snuck away and said nothing. (grin)

[chocolate_frapp]

[one_raido]

There is so much money to be made with these packages.

[wpadmirer]

I know. I'm sure that's why the NHL signed up for it. But it's really hard on fans. A lot of them are like me, it's WAY out of our price range.

[deepseasiren]

My mom's brother, my Uncle Tom, fought with honors in the 442nd as did two great uncles. Walter was at the tail end of Vietnam in 1974 and served in Somalia...think Black Hawk Down movie. From which he suffers PTSD to this day.

[wpadmirer]

PTSD is awful. I'm sorry to hear that Walter has it.

My father served in WWII, and an uncle did as well. I have a couple of cousins who were in the military. One of them is a jackass and never did anything anywhere there was shooting.

[deepseasiren]

I worry about Walter because he has these waking nightmares and he has gotten up in the middle of the night on several occasions when we were snuggled up in bed. One time, he fell and hit his head, and showed me a picture of the bruises. When we first met he warned me about these nightmares and told me to wake him up when they occur. I asked him once what his most common war nightmare was and he said he was being bayoneted while crawling in mud. I shuddered.

He's stubborn as shit though and won't go and get help for it. Sometimes I want to strangle him!!

[wpadmirer]

Men.

I'm lucky that Pat will say he needs help. He sees a therapist regularly. He has PTSD, but it's not from war, and I have PTSD and it's not from war. So we both have a lot of experience with the waking nightmares and panic attacks. It's shit to live with, but therapy can help.

They're actually doing great things with Ecstacy these days. Pat and I read about all the various treatments. He won't try that one, but apparently they've had great success at the VA with treating vets.