Well despite my inability to get to Washington DC this year, Veterans Day turned out to be a momentous day. On Monday, I was offered and accepted a position with an environmental firm in Hawaii, ending 9 long months of unemployment. I will continue to live in California and work from home, traveling to Hawaii and elsewhere in the South Pacific and Asia as required. My new employer is a firm that I have worked with for 24 years as a subcontractor.
Larry, I know all too well the feelings of survivors guilt and the tendency to keep people at arms length, they cost me the love of my first wife. In the years that have passed I have overcome the guilt, the profound sense of loss, and the hurt through many hours of discussion with our fellow vets. My Dad and his two brothers fought in WWII. At nearly every family gathering he and my two Uncles would brake away from the family group and sit and talk about the War and other things. Kids and wives were excluded. It was their "group therapy" and it help them put the horrors of WWII behind them. My Fathers advice was to find someone to talk to that will listen in a non-judgemental manner. And so I became involved with veterans groups that focused on understand the effects of PTSD and treatment for it. He promised me that over time and after many hours of discussion that, I would find peace in my heart and my restless mind would settle. He was right and I have.
Jake, my second wife, to whom I am married to today is jewish. Her family suffered terribly at the hands of the Nazi's. To this day there are things about her family experience that she cannot discuss without becoming very emotional. I have great admiration for the citizens of Nazi occupied countries who resisted their occupiers. It is good that you Father now speaks of his experiences. It is history that should not be lost.
Thank you all for your kind words and understanding and please extend the same to the young men and women returning from todays conflicts as will need all of our support and understanding as try to find a path forward for themselves.
Chris
