I forgot about this...

I was going through old emails looking for a specific one I wrote last year. But I found one I had forgotten all about. While I was deployed, I met someone on-line and from a few short emails, a long conversation started. We laughed, we cried, we talked. Oh man did, we talk. This person has become a very good friend since those times. I still call just to chit chat and end up spending a few hours on the phone talking about everything.

The great thing about our emails to each other is that they were rapid and long. I could always expect to wake up in the morning to the message "Good Morning, Sunshine!" which, despite detecting the sarcasm in the words, always brought a smile to my face. There would be emails fired off all day with most as replies to a previous one, forming chains. Since I was a little more than 8 hours ahead of the States that meant that we were writing to each other at all hours. For me, those emails made the time go by faster and were an escape from the day to day life of a deployment. For that, I owe this person much gratitude.

Below is one of those emails. The original email was titled "LMAO" ( Laugh My Ass Off ) and had started as a response to something I had written that made this person laugh. The day before I wrote this, I had found out about Rahmeen passing away and had mentioned it, that was email#8 in this chain. In #11, she told me how a friend's son had committed suicide and how she felt. What I have pasted below is the twelfth and final email of "LMAO". Maybe someone will read this at a time when they need that little boost to keep going.

RE:LMAO


I'm sorry for your friend's loss. Though they will have to live with this, they should not blame themselves. There is only so much a person can do for others. Ultimately, it is each of us as individuals that decide how we live our lives. Others may offer something, but it is you and you alone who decides whether or not to accept it. That is the burden of being a parent, friend, husband, wife and leader. Things happen for a reason and no matter how hard you try to change it, if it is meant to happen then it will. That is the side of life that sucks.

I'm also sorry if I made you cry the other day. I didn't mean to. But I am happy that you did and happy that you got angry. Because it means that you care about more than yourself and those close to you. That gives me faith and hope that this world hasn't totally gone to hell.

I'm going to type out a poem for you that a friend of mine gave me over here. Maybe it will help you someday. Consider it a gift. It's called "Desiderata".

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there
may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with
all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to
the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive
persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always
there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements
as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is
a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not
this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and
everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it
is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress
yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the
universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And
whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever
your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be
cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

I think you've had enough emotional news these past few days. If you write back before I write again, start a fresh email. I will do the same. LMAO is old. Take care and stay warm ( just trying to help you think Fall is here).

Chris