I am upset, shocked, distraught, worried ... all those words that mean that you can't concentrate on anything except the thing you want to forget. My oldest brother's grandson was wounded by an IED/suicide bomber in Afghanistan. I'm also pretty f-ing angry at this stupid, stupid war.
My oldest brother is a lot older than I (19 years) and was part of West Point class of 1959. He spent 25 years in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring. He spent 2 tours of duty in Vietnam and you'd think that that would have gotten him to hate war and it's consequences. Of course, 25 years of brainwashing will make you a big time Republican, and the fact that he retired in Huntsville Alabama doesn't have any moderating influence. (I almost gagged when earlier this year he told me that he was honored to meet Newt Gingrich and thought that Newt would be the best candidate for President.) However, I've learned in my family not to discuss politics much, as they are all Faux news watchers and there isn't much point.
My brother's three sons are all also right wingers; having grown up in as Army brats on bases all over the world, you would have thought they would have gotten an appreciation for other cultures, but I guess having Colorado Springs, Missouri, and Alabama as duty posts makes you forget what you learned in your early years in Europe.
At any rate, my brother's youngest son Dave has a son Christopher who went through Emory Riddle University on a full scholarship and joined the Army as an officer. I don't know him well as I live in California and he was from Alabama, but I know he is a very nice young man. He is on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and sometime yesterday was hit by an IED worn by a suicide bomber. He is on life support right now and we just don't know if he is going to make it. He has injuries to his arms, legs, pelvis, and most importantly, his brain.
My almost 95 year old Mom (his great-grandmother) is beside herself and keeps saying "I can't take this anymore. I can't take this anymore." I am also beyond worried about her and whether she can weather whatever is coming for Christopher without giving up.
I am writing this diary because there is no one in my family (other than my husband of course) that I can vent to about what a stupid senseless war this is, that a bright young man who was smart enough to get a full ride scholarship is maybe going to die, or maybe be so dramatically altered by his injuries that he would rather be dead. I am so f-ing angry that the Republican party cares more about big Oil profits than they do about my nephew (or about my other nephew who is losing his home to foreclosure or my other one who already lost his to foreclosure and hasn't had a steady job in 2 years despite the fact that he is a Master electrician.)
I am also writing it to ask everyone to send prayers, peaceful light, energy waves, good thoughts, the Goddess's blessings, Om's, or whatever you believe in to Christopher and to my Mom Eleanore. I hope and pray that this earnest young man does not have to suffer for Corporate greed any more than he already has, and that his Great Grandmother is able to bear this burden without succumbing to grief.
3:04 PM PT: Thanks everyone for the Rec's -- my first time to the Rec List. I'm usually a commenter, not a diarist. I am very sorry that it had to be for this reason, but I appreciate the support.
4:35 PM PT: I realize that this might be buried in the comments. About 3:30 we got an update. He is expected to make it, but unclear on his prognosis. Arms and legs are all there, but badly injured. Skull is fractured, but no shrapnel in the brain. Injuries to the pelvis. Intestinal/torso injuries limited by a flak jacket. He is in a coma and will stay that way with drugs until evacuated to Germany. Thank you -- prayers are helping.