Freedom...

It has been a rocky week for the Wood family, with much noise created from my minor illness and a couple of trips to Rhode Island’s finest emergency rooms. I do say this knowing full well that I live a charmed life and a rough week is a minor hiccup. While I always try to stay present in this reality, especially when Brody would like to start his day at 3 am.  I also try to be aware of how fragile life is it can be forever changed in a breath.  

When my mother passed she left me a letter the last line of the letter, and what I believe to be the most profound, states simply “Life is hard and choices are difficult but I wish you joy all your life.” My mother was never one to sugar coat anything. My mother was in fact the one that informed me there is no Santa Claus at the age of 6, keeping her reasons for doing so to herself. She was of course right about both, there is no fat jolly man living in the North Pole and  life can be hard and choices are difficult. 

Choices are hard. 

Today, on this Fourth of July as our country celebrated independence day and in essence freedom, the Wood’s ventured to Bristol, RI. We spent time with family and celebrated Maggie’s (Ben’s first cousin) visit home from Afghanistan. Maggie is a Black Hawk Pilot in the Medic division. 

Choices are hard. 

Maggie is a brave, humble, beautiful young woman. While on leave and home she enjoys the freedoms denied to her while fighting for ours. 

This forth of July week enjoy your freedom and thank a soldier. 

Walk through the grass in your bare feet for Maggie.