Do you know what I see when I look at you?
I see determination, perseverance, courage, and yes stubbornness.
Not the wheels, the prosthetic limb, the shaking
Do you know what I see when I look at you?
I see fear, pain, anger, and doubt.
I see hope, camaraderie, love, caring and patience.
Do you know what I see when I look at you?
I see my Grandfather on his loyal horse in the calvary in WWI, the last time he rode before getting injured and his horse was given to another who went out the following day and got blown up along with the horse.
I see my uncle, young and scared being deployed to France in WWII. The only thing he ever said about the war was that he’d like to go see Paris in peace time. He never did.
I see my nephew serving overseas and his proud parents praying for his save return.
I see my nephew serving overseas and his proud parents praying for his save return.
I see an ex military guy I met that had 54 pieces of metal inside him from a bomb that went off waiting for the day that one of those pieces would float to his heart and kill him.
I see someone who stares down the boogey man, the threats, the fear, the fighting, the destruction, the chaos and says first, you need to get through me.
Do you know what I see when I look at you?
I see the cost of my freedom.
Freedom that means I can say what I want and where, as long as its not a hate crime of course. I can get any education I can afford. I can complain to my government about tuition fees. I can protest. I can change my gender, orientation, body, religion and mind because I live in a democracy free from tyranny, because of you.
Do you know what I see when I look at you?
I see you. And I am grateful.
(c)2017 Catherine Elder
