As news started spreading yesterday that death benefits were halted due to the government shutdown, one of my friends wrote "yes, the sky really is falling".  Many Americans are using these past two weeks to argue that "nonessential" employees are a waste of money and proclaiming that their towns are no different, their lives have felt no impact, and that they are hunky dory so.  Who cares?  Let them shut it down.

Wrong.

Part of being a good human being is having empathy for others.  Looking outside yourself, outside your town, outside your constituency (ahem, Congress) and feeling the pain of your fellow Americans with you.  If you can't do that, it truly is a sign of inferior intelligence.  Just read a little from psychologist Erik Erikson if you want details on that.

You don't get elected to Congress to go to Washington and blindly vote your constituents wants with tunnel vision.  If that were the case, we could elect machines to go in and just type "yes" or "no" based on pure up or down votes from the masses within the boundary.  Congressional drones, if you will.  No, instead we elect humans because we all know that life isn't cut and dried and that sometimes, especially in times of great hardship and hurt, you need to look at the big picture.  You use your constituency's wants and needs as the lens in which you view the bigger picture, and in this case, the bigger nation. 

Congressmen and women are puffing up their chests and proudly proclaiming that they are fighting for the will of "their" people.  But what about the people who have sacrificed everything they have, their very lives, for a country that is currently betraying them?  How can you walk onto Capitol Hill knowing that you are hanging military widows out to dry?  How can you, with a straight face, argue that you are willing to shut down the government, paralyze the military, halt death benefits, not pay the very police officers protecting you within the Hill's walls, and even play with the brink of default and economic ruin, on behalf of your constituency?  It is ludicrous and sounds like utter insanity to the vast majority of Americans.

One of the small comforts to our soldiers is the "fact" that if something were to happen to them in war that our country would do everything in it's power to soften the blow to the family.  CACO (Casualty Assistance Calls Officers) are trained on how to give the news and then take the widow or parents of the fallen through the unimaginable task of burying their soldier, sailor, or marine.  Part of that includes a death gratuity of $100,000 to get through those first weeks.  Pay stops when a military member is killed.  Life insurance is not an instantaneous benefit.  But the death gratuity helps the family get to Dover to meet the body, pay for funeral expenses, pay their mortgage and bills, and basically give them some padding to grieve before all of the paperwork surrounding death was necessary.

That is suspended right now because a bunch of Congressman have forgotten about the big picture of our country.  Forgotten that one of the most important things we have is our integrity.  That we keep our promises, especially to those men and women who give the ultimate sacrifice.  The trust in our government is slowly but surely getting eaten away by Congressional and Presidential vitriol that makes me cringe and avoid the 24 hour news networks at all costs.  It isn't all about you, tea party. It isn't all about you, Mr. Boehner.  It isn't all about you, Mr. President. 

It is about our country as a whole, our ability to wrap our arms around each other in the hardest times, and our ability to sacrifice our position in order to help those most vulnerable.  We pay our bills because we promised we would.  We pay our war widows because when their husbands got on a plane to Afghanistan we promised we would.  To recant on those promises is un-American and shameful.

Wake up, America.  If 5 men have been able to sacrifice their life during this shutdown, the least you can do is sacrifice a little bit of your pride for the greater good.  It is time to come together and get out of this mess so that we can clean up and move forward. 

Dear Congress,

While the media pundits talk about waiting for one side to "blink", I think it is safe to say that the rest of America is already flinching.  Appalled at the lack of leadership being displayed on Capitol Hill right now.  Saddened by the inability of our nation's elected government to put their own political agendas and aspirations aside in order to do what is right.  Not notice I didn't say "best", I said "right".  The way you are holding your constituents hostage right now is unconscionable. And I think there are going to be dire consequences from this disgusting game of chicken you are waging with one another.

It is football season again, but I'm not talking about College Game Day or Monday Night.  I'm talking about using your government workers and military as a pawn in your desire to get what you want.  You have men and women on the front lines right now, young soldiers who live paycheck to paycheck, whose minds aren't 100% focused on their mission because they are worried about their families back home.  "Supporting the troops" means being for them in mind and body and spirit.  Not just slapping a yellow ribbon on your car and waving a flag during a parade or giving a speech on Memorial Day.  It is about thinking about the emotional ramifications of using troops to get what you want during a political temper tantrum. 

As my very eloquent and brilliant friend Vivian said on CNN yesterday, "we have always considered our paychecks sacrosanct".  And shouldn't we?  If the government shuts down tonight at midnight, all military members will be expected to report for duty on Tuesday morning.  Our overseas fighters will still be expected to go on their missions and stand the watch.  Military members will still be in harms way.  What a slap in the face to our military members and families to expect them to lay their lives on the line while Congress escalates the budget agreement into a fight over issues that have been lingering for years. 

On a personal level, the Naval Aviation community suffered a tragedy last week when two of our pilots were killed in the Red Sea.  They were flying missions in the Red Sea because of the ongoing uncertainty in Syria.  They were supposed to be home by now.  But no, they followed orders and served bravely and nobly and paid the ultimate price for their country.  And now, because of this inexcusable lack of leadership and motivation, the widows of these brave men might not get the death benefits they deserve.  Read the words of Landon's widow Theresa and tell me that this woman should be stressed about money right now?  The answer is no.  Thinking of her grief and anxiety makes me physically ill.  If it hasn't made you "blink" yet, you are certifiably crazy.

It took me almost a full week to sit down and write this letter.  I believed that Washington was better than this.  I grew up inside the beltway in McLean, I went to grade school with your children, attended birthday parties at your homes.  Congressman have never been so theoretical in my mind because I have watched you play with your kids and provide for your families.  You are human and have loved ones and understand how important family is.  But now, as part of the 1% that makes up military families, I have become disenchanted and saddened that the people I know have the power to compromise, to put their personal political agendas aside to truly work for the American people, have decided instead to use my husband's livelihood as the ultimate pawn.  Being the political party who "saves the troops" is now a prize.  But I challenge you to remember who you are saving the troops from.  That right now the villain is not Al Queda or an overseas target; right now it is our own government who is taking solid aim at our life.

Government distrust is real and has real consequences.  The more you use the military and government workers as a bargaining chip, the more that your best people will walk away.  This lifestyle is already stressful - between moves and separations and the dangers of the job, we are already more taxed than the average person.  But to add this bi-annual game of wondering whether we will even get our paycheck to pay our mortgage is unconscionable.  And you will send your best and brightest running to the private sector faster than you can "blink".  This battle, whether it is settled tonight at 11:59 PM or a week from now will leave a deep scar on the minds of military members and their families.  It will be something families consider when deciding to re-enlist or not.  And our nation will suffer for it.

Last year I interviewed Kate on her first day.  I thought it was fun to see what was on her then-3 year old mind.  I decided to repeat the same interview this year with both Kate and Connor.  I'm sure the questions will evolve over the years, but I hope I can keep doing this every fall so that when they are 18 and graduating they will have a special keepsake.

I interviewed Kate first.  I did it after the first week was over so she could answer things about her new class. 

9/6/13 Interview with Kate, Pre-K (4 year olds)

What is your favorite thing about school?

The bin of My Little Ponies.  They have rainbow dash and pinkie pie!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A doctor.   

Who is your best friend?

Mrs. Shrepel and Sarah and Ransom.

What is your favorite animal?

A horse.

What is your favorite color?

Pink and purple and red.

What is your favorite book?

The airplane book and "If You Give a Dog a Donut"

What is your favorite TV show?

Magic Schoolbus

Name something you really like.

Coloring and stickering, swings, and Connor.

Name something you don't like.

I don't like being in time out.

What is your favorite thing about Connor?

He jumps on the bed with me.  And we build forts!

What is one thing you really want to do this year?

I want to color a lot in class and play with my friends. 

Kate's First Day Self Portrait: 

No first day jitters, no tears, no fears.  Just happy to be with friends, teachers who love them, and (finally!) each other at school.

Okay, maybe there were tears.  But they were mine. 

Happy first day!

Hi everyone,

I feel like I need a formal introduction because I know I have been really terrible about blogging for the past few months.  It seems as though when I get emotional I have two reactions: words flow right out of me like a fire hose (and sometimes lack a filter), or I just freeze up and can't find the words to say anything.  The past few months have been the latter, I have felt quiet and introspective.  Like my thoughts were mine only, not really ready to share anything.

But as summer turns into fall I feel like it is time to emerge from my cocoon.  I always consider fall a season of renewal.  A new school year for children with freshly sharpened pencils, new folders and bright new clothing.  A renewed sense of energy as the heat and humidity cool into the warm glow of autumn.  And of course, the most important thing of all, pumpkin spice is back!  I'm excited about the next few months; we have plans to see family, celebrate holidays, and then come December we are moving out to California.  Back to the coastline where I know both my husband and I feel most at home.  Even if it is the wild wild west as opposed to the east coast we are accustomed to.

The past two weekends we have experienced the clash of the seasons very vividly.  Last weekend we drove out to Lawrence, Kansas to experience one of the quintessential heartland crops: the sunflower.  It was a late peak this year due to the (mercifully) mild summer.  When we found out we were coming to Kansas in the fall of 2012 a few stereotypes immediately popped into my head: tornadoes, The Wizard of Oz, and sunflower fields.  We (thankfully) haven't seen any tornadoes this year, we did see "Oz" when the new movie came to the theatre here and enjoyed Union Station glowing green as Emerald City, and I am so happy that we actually were able to see and enjoy the sunflowers.

I've been hard on Kansas.  We arrived in the dead of winter, missed the holidays with family, got snow (lots and lots of snow!).  We are smack dab in the middle of the country and all of our family and friends are on the coasts.  It is hard for me to find the silver lining of Fort Leavenworth and lately I've been feeling guilty.  Like I haven't given a new friend a chance.

One thing I do love about it here is the history.  The Fort is teeming with amazing history around every corner.  When I go on walks I always discover something new to look at, read, and think about.  Last night was a beautiful summer night and John had a lot of work to do in the office.  So instead of curling up on the couch alone, I grabbed my camera and went for a walk.  I decided to take pictures of the things that caught my eye.  In doing so I really learned what an amazing place this really is; that I am lucky to spend a year here. 

Where else in one short 3 mile walk can you see the remnants of the Oregon Trail, one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas, a section of the Berlin Wall, the Missouri River, the oldest residence in Kansas, a wall erected to protect Leavenworth from the Indians during westward expansion, lakes, parks, cool old homes, and of course the old United States Disciplinary Barracks prison (the US military's only maximum security prison).  3 miles!  All from my front door.  Pretty cool, right? 

Brief History:
 












The Berlin Wall is located behind the staff college and on Smith Lake.


To cut back up to a road that had sidewalks, I went through the covered walkway between the Command General Staff College building and the newly remodeled library.  Then went up Wint Ave and took a left on Sherman Ave.



And learned a little bit about Lewis & Clark and the "Highway to the West".


Sherman Avenue has many of the old "Main Post" homes.  These homes were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s and it makes me incredibly happy to see how well preserved they have been despite their age and the beating they get by being moved into and out of every 2-4 years.









As I continued north on Scott, I admire the many international flags.  There are hundreds of international students and staff on Fort Leavenworth.  It is one of the things we like most about living here.  In John's section alone (16 officers) there are three international student officers. 





At Riverside Drive there is one of the original fort walls that was constructed to keep the Native Americans out. 



I went west on Riverside, and then a right onto Sumner Place.  Sumner is notorious for being the most haunted block on Fort Leavenworth. 


Just north of the Rookery is the old United States Disciplinary Barracks.  The prison has since moved to a more modern facility on the fort, but the old bones of the former prison are still here.  It now houses offices and a restaurant.



On the way home this duplex caught my eye.  I like to think that the neighbor on the right is subtly countering the West Point flag with an "Annapolis" flag.  What is a better symbol of Annapolis than a crab?!

Walking west on McPherson Ave heading home I took a picture of one of MANY different historical markers.  You don't even have to read, you just push a button and listen.

I took a left and went back down toward our house by the old hospital that now houses youth services and other offices.  One thing I love about the old hospital are the cool dormer windows.

And then I was back on Pope Ave, the opposite side of our housing area.  A 3 mile walk, lots of history, and it is only a small fraction of the post. 

I know that one day I will remember the beautiful walks on Fort Leavenworth and miss it. 

You're 4!  How did that happen, sweet girl?




Some days I swear that I can still smell and feel and taste the way the hospital was the weekend you were born.  I remember your tiny little body and your sweet little cries and the fear I had because you were too early and I wasn't ready.  You transformed me into a mother in the blink of an eye and I remember just being so incredibly overwhelmed with love and fear and happiness and anxiety.

I remember the first time your daddy left the two of us alone.  He had to go home to get a few items for me (my glasses! who forgets their glasses?) and as soon as he stepped out of the room I felt, for the first time, that new mommy fear.  What do I do with this little person?  Do I hold her?  Do I put her in the bassinet?  What if a nurse comes in and I'm not holding her right?  What will they think of me as a mom?  Little did I know that it was the very beginning of mother guilt and doubt.  It was the first of many life lessons we have experienced together.  It is true that children are their parent's greatest teachers in life.

I remember John coming back to the hospital and telling me how he could smell you on his clothes, on his hands, everywhere.  You had only been in the world for 12 hours but you were already everywhere around us.  You had imprinted on him and he was forever changed.  Wherever your daddy and I go, today and forever, you come with us.

You were our first baby.  We tried hard not to make any mistakes with you but I am sure we made some, and will continue to make some, on this journey of parenthood.  Your first week at home I obsessed over every ounce you gained, and worried every time you slept too long or didn't sleep at all. You were our miracle, our blessing, and we were absolutely terrified at how much we loved you.

Looking at you now, I cannot believe what a beautiful little girl you have become.  You aren't a baby anymore, you aren't a toddler, you are a little girl!  You are inquisitive and gentle, you are smart and focused, you love others deeply and light up the room with your smiles and winks.  You love so easily and so openly and I admire your ability to forgive quickly and comfort others even when you are hurting.  You have taught me a lot about forgiveness and being open to others.  I love that you are so friendly to other children and that you are quick to play with whoever approaches you.  I hope you continue to be so kindhearted and sweet spirited for making others feel worthy and important is a wonderful trait to possess.

You love school and your teachers and classmates.  You are so intent on learning to read and write right now.  I love how you ask questions all day and practice your writing for fun.  Your focus is breathtaking and you got that trait from your daddy.  Right now you really seem to enjoy insects which often freaks me out because you will calmly walk over to me and place bugs in my hands that you find so that I can put them outside.  "Isn't he cuuuuute?", you ask.  I fake a "yes, sweety of course" while I make a quick bolt toward the door.  Maybe in a few years you will be disposing of the spiders during daddy's deployments. 

For this next year I wish for you happiness and knowledge and friendship and love.  Daddy, Connor, and I love you more than anything and are so proud to be your family.  Happy birthday, Kate-Kate, here's to a wonderful 5th year!

Love, Mommy