Veteran’s Day Thoughts – “Making Friends”
I’ve written a lot about my mother over the years and I’ve shared bits and pieces about her here and there. November is usually a tough month for me with Veteran’s Day and the anniversary of her passing all falling within just a few days of each other.
But I’m blessed. I miss her all the time, but the fact is that she left such a lasting legacy that I have so many things to remember her by. I mean, I get emails all. the. time. from people who have read her book or watched something about her or are doing a project on Vietnam and end up finding my blog along the way during their research – and they send me emails saying things like, “Your mom was a hero.” You have no idea how encouraging that is.
That photo above is a photo that was taken of her in California in the early 1970s shortly after she got back from her service in Vietnam. It’s one of my favorites of her – even though I never knew her as a blonde, she just looks so young and happy. In fact, she’s probably younger in this photo than I am right now. I’m not totally sure.
But anyway. Between her books and her impact on women veterans, her legacy is one that will continue to live on – even after I die one day.
I was going through some of her old writings last night and I came across one of my favorite poems of hers that was published in her book, “Visions of War, Dreams of Peace.”
I thought, being that it’s Veteran’s Day and all, that I’d share it with you guys:
Making Friends
Twenty years since my life was changed
Twenty years making a friend of death
Knowing it
Respecting It
Wishing for it at times
Fighting with it as friends sometimes do.But the nightmares of war have faded as I’ve healed
My dreams are now of peace
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Hoping for Peace on earth
It’s time I made a friend of Life.
-Lynda Van Devanter Buckley – 1990
Happy Veteran’s Day!
wow…what an inspiring woman to have as a mother!
she really was an inspiration. 🙂
Your mom sounds like an amazing woman and I can see how proud you are of her from your writings. Beautifully written. You always make me tear up in your serious posts!
she really was, marissa!! thank you so much! 🙂 sorry i made you tear up!!
What a beautiful poem. Your Mom is stunning, and that photo is just so beautiful.
xo Jenny
http://www.crazystylelove.com
thank you so much, jenny! she really was!
I had no idea you’re mom was a writer. Thank you for sharing this very person piece of yourself and her life. I too am grateful for my heritage this Veteran’s day. Beautiful poem!
yep! she sure was – she used writing as therapy for her PTSD after the war. thanks, beth!
Charisma appears to be hereditary and as someone else said, your mom seems like she was an amazing woman (more than words can express). There is a power in what she did that most would not/do not get. I think she passed some of the power on to you seeing what you and your husband do with passing on your love the word. Happy Veteran’s Day.
amen, shawn! amen. thank you so much for your encouraging words – it really means a lot.
Beautiful Molly. Simply Beautiful
thank you, joanna! 🙂 <3
Molly, I am a fairly new reader to your blog, so I didn’t know all this about your mom. I followed all of your links, and ordered your mom’s book, and I can see how proud you are of her. Thank you so much for sharing today.
oh katie wow- thank you so much for reading! 🙂
Your mom sounds like she was an amazing woman. That’s a great picture of her! I love her stance… it’s very fashion blogger-esque!
she really was. thank you, allyssa!