Ohhh Lisa this one screams of the pain of loss and the longing for what can never be again. I do not believe anyone can ask someone not to cry because tears help ease the pain of the loss we feel at being separated from loved ones. As humans it is one of the traits that does distinguish us from animals and so we should embrace it when it is necessary as we embrace laughter with joy.

Very touching write Lisa,

Felix

Dear Lisa,

He knows you promised and he welcomes the tears. You and your beloved paid the ultimate sacrifice so that many others could live.
The worst part is not having the chance to say goodbye. In deeply felt gratitude, my tears join with yours.

Love & Light,
Joseph

Lisa, this is so full of the promise...we all shall never have time to say we love you enough to those we love. Beautiful write.

Allen

Being a soldier's wife is the hardest job in the military, Lisa. It is incredibly painful when that day comes when we learn that they won't be coming home this time. Each time they go, a piece of us goes with them and we never get it back. We become a bit hardened so that we don't live every moment in fear, we convince ourselves that they will be alright so we can go on with our own life. Then that fateful day finally occurs, after we have already made ourselves immune to the fact that it ever could, we are stripped naked in our grief and shame with no strength left to accept our fate. We thought it was just another deployment, just another few months of him being away and us having to handle it all at home by ourselves, but this time was different and no amount of tears will ever wash away the sadness that we feel for closing our heart little by little in an act of self preservation. Excellent and extremely emotional write, Lisa. This broke my heart all over again.
Take care,
Sherry

*tears* Lisa, you know how to wring every drop of emotion in your powerful writes...bless you...very appropriate in these times. Excellent write!

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

So appropriate to these hard and sad times.

heartwrenching, lisa; thanks for making me cry!! i am getting all lumpy-eyed here! beautfifully yet powerfully written write; very well done! brava!!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your lumpy-eyed friend in burleson, karen lynn. :D

merry christmas and a happy new year to you and yours! :)

Oh this has me in tears.....very touching read sis!!

Love & warmest hugs Tinka

Ah, Lisa, the promise we all make but many can't keep - I won't cry! A heart-breaking cry with memories that are small, but which we who love keep throughout our lives. You put yourself in others' places and write about them so well. A poignant write. Beautiful.

Peace. Joyce

poignant poem, Lisa, that is a beautiful testament to the tangible loss some feel most acutely this time of year. important reminder for all of us of freedom and the debt of gratitude we owe those who serve in the armed forces. thx and blessings during this season of peace, Dawn