Tragedy
Hey. I know that I don't update much, but I feel it necessary to mention something in the event that any of you are trying to contact me and haven't been able. My e-mail address is feeding.the.flame@gmail.com, and any on my FList are more than welcome to send me mail. Please... I don't *need* sympathy or anything on this, so dont think I'm asking for it. All I'm doing is saying 'hey, this is why I'm not around'... and such.
Most of you who know me, know that I have a lot of members of my family in the military. A little while ago, I had two cousins deployed. My cousin Valerie in Iraq, and my cousin Laura in Afghanistan.
On August 17th or perhaps a day or two earlier, Laura Walker, my cousin, was tragically killed in Afghanistan by a terrorist roadside bomb while escorting a military caravan to (as we suspect) a ribbon cutting ceremony halmarking the finishing of that very road, which my cousin helped to build, herself. She was so proud of all she'd been doing.
This is not some distant relation of mine. Laura Walker is my first cousin, and sister to Brian Walker, who is not only my family, but a very close friend. Losing here is a horror.
an abominable horror.. and I have yet to feel the full effect of it. If I seem distant or quiet recently, understand that I am trying to cope with an atrocious loss. Otakon is this weekend. Being unable to spend time with the immediate family of Laura (as we know that it is far more appropriate to let them have a few days of their grief to themselves before the rest of the family gets involved directly) . . .and having already purchased hotel reservations in the Inner harbor... my family and I are just trying to get through things and have as good a time as can be expected... because the days that will follow this weekend, starting with Sunday, are certain to be Hell on Earth.
Laura will be buried at West Point, the school from which she graduated only two years ago. She was twenty-four.
She was due to be engaged by Edward, her boyfriend/fiancé, who now is escorting the body back to the States from Afghanistan. Her loss is a tremendous burden on us all.
This is something of a silent tribute online to the cousin I used to play in the pool with.. who I loved dearly and still love, who was the first grandchild to graduate college, the first to be sent overseas, the pride and joy of her family, a beloved smiling face to her friends and everyone else besides, .... who I chatted with at the grandparents' beach house.
She is missed. Things still haven't settled in. I dread the moment that it does.
Thanks for your support, guys. I love you all.
Spo
Most of you who know me, know that I have a lot of members of my family in the military. A little while ago, I had two cousins deployed. My cousin Valerie in Iraq, and my cousin Laura in Afghanistan.
On August 17th or perhaps a day or two earlier, Laura Walker, my cousin, was tragically killed in Afghanistan by a terrorist roadside bomb while escorting a military caravan to (as we suspect) a ribbon cutting ceremony halmarking the finishing of that very road, which my cousin helped to build, herself. She was so proud of all she'd been doing.
This is not some distant relation of mine. Laura Walker is my first cousin, and sister to Brian Walker, who is not only my family, but a very close friend. Losing here is a horror.
an abominable horror.. and I have yet to feel the full effect of it. If I seem distant or quiet recently, understand that I am trying to cope with an atrocious loss. Otakon is this weekend. Being unable to spend time with the immediate family of Laura (as we know that it is far more appropriate to let them have a few days of their grief to themselves before the rest of the family gets involved directly) . . .and having already purchased hotel reservations in the Inner harbor... my family and I are just trying to get through things and have as good a time as can be expected... because the days that will follow this weekend, starting with Sunday, are certain to be Hell on Earth.
Laura will be buried at West Point, the school from which she graduated only two years ago. She was twenty-four.
She was due to be engaged by Edward, her boyfriend/fiancé, who now is escorting the body back to the States from Afghanistan. Her loss is a tremendous burden on us all.
This is something of a silent tribute online to the cousin I used to play in the pool with.. who I loved dearly and still love, who was the first grandchild to graduate college, the first to be sent overseas, the pride and joy of her family, a beloved smiling face to her friends and everyone else besides, .... who I chatted with at the grandparents' beach house.
She is missed. Things still haven't settled in. I dread the moment that it does.
Thanks for your support, guys. I love you all.
Spo