It's the start of a new day and a stop at the corner market is in order. I quickly gather into my empty hand basket, four medium sized Fuji apples, two ripened avacados, one crisp cucumber, one sun ripened tomato. Soon after, ideas for the days family meal plan begin to take form in my mind.
She stands behind the counter with pushed up sleeves of her steel blue sweatshirt that reads PRO SOCCER. I notice she is about 19 and I appreciate her hardworking and motivated disposition. I begin with a question of personal inquiry and ask her if she is going to college. To my surprise she tells me that she is not enrolled at the time, but will be starting at a the local state college next Spring semester. She quickly adds that her boyfriend is in the army and it didn't work out for her to go this term, because she had to see him off.
Something inside me stirred with heartache and thoughts of what she was most likely suffering. I immediately made the connection of my daughters recent battle of fighting on the home front, waiting for her best friend and 5 year long boyfriend, turned fiancee, to make it home safely. It brought me back to the numbing pain, draining tears, and great agony of what my very own daughter, who at the time, lived under my roof went through. I would know...I carried her.
My memory shot back to one year ago, when my daughters, now husband, left for Afghanistan. I rushed to show empathy by sharing that my daughter, who use to work across the shopping center, just got through waiting for her soldier to come home from Afghanistan and recently married him. Perhaps that news would breath a little hope into her seemingly stressed spirit. Her eyes light up as she shares, "My boyfriend is in Afghanistan!" I purposefully looked directly into her eyes to let her know that I understand well what many would not understand. Her heart lifted for just a minute, as she retraced the last months of Skyping with her boyfriend while he was at a certain base. Trying to focus on doing her job and having her heart open at the same time when sharing took some focus. Finding the mental space to add more information she adds that the last she heard was that her boyfriend was going on a 15 day mission. She wouldn't be able to talk to him again until he got back. My sorrow was refreshed. She pointed down with her finger and nodded her head as if to try and imagine where exactly his mission was and says "He's going South...South, somewhere South Afghanistan....
Words of encouragement flew across the counter as I grabbed my bags and ran out the door to meet my family who was waiting in the car. The morning is new, but my heart is heavy and I am reminded once again how so many of America's beautiful daughters lives are put on hold with this seemingly unending war in the Middle East. She takes it one breath at a time. She waits, but knows not if what she is waiting for will ever return.
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