“Do the next thing”

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Gold Star Flag, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

This man was from Fran’s Unit.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 708-06
July 25, 2006
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Stephen W. Castner, 27, of Cedarburg, Wis., died on July 24, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMMV during combat operations in Tallil, Iraq. Castner was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery, Milwaukee, Wis.

Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office at (608) 242-3050.

I got a call a little bit ago that someone from Fran’s unit has already been killed and two others injured. I’ve cried, but now I must move on and wait for it to hit the news. Just letting you know that it wasn’t Fran………..

We don’t even know if it is someone from Maine, Nevada, or Wisconsin. We don’t know anything. We just know that we are a little unerved since they only arrived there this weekend and have hardly had time to acclimate………

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Flag Ceremony, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

Well, Fran has arrived “in country.” That’s what they call it when they are overseas at their assignment. To me, in country would indicate, “in MY country,” but such is not the case. Basically, he is there and we are here. While it is about 4pm here, it is about 11pm there.

I thought of him when I saw this flag raising this past week at camp. Last year he did this job with his cabin full of boys. It was odd seeing someone else do it.

His latest need to purchase items were sheets and a power converter. There aren’t any in stock in the store, and he couldn’t buy any off of the outgoing soldiers…the cash machines were empty. Having to buy sheets means that they have mattresses and not just cots. That’s a good thing. They are still in tents, though. Sort of like M.A.S.H. but tan rather than green!

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Well, this weekend we here on the homefront are headed to Camp Good News to work for a week. Anna will be the only one who isn’t working, actually! Erik will be home holding down the fort, and working his job, but the rest of us will live at camp as we do our various tasks to serve children who come to learn about God.

Funny how life goes on. Inside there is so much different about me, Fran, our family and our life, yet, on the outside everything else goes on normally. Always the same, with nary a change. Camp happens every year at the same place. Yard sales down the street. Church on Sunday. Politics. Newspapers. Telemarketers. Amazing how everything is so predictable. Family reunion on the 1st Saturday in August. Back to school sales at Walmart in July. Used Curriculum Sale in Augusta. People wanting copies of my Maine Studies curriculum. Questions on whether or not this is the year for New England to get a hurricane. Or, is this the year for another blizzard for the northeast. How come everything else is so normal, and I don’t feel normal at all?

(more…)

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Like My Hallway Paint Colors, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

I finally took the kids to the beach. Well, Adam and Anna anyways. Micah and Erik were not around. We went with friends and had a nice time! We all got a little burned, despite the three different kinds of sunblock in my tote bag. Go figure!! We bought a park pass so we can go free whenever we want now. Let’s hope I choose to take them there more often. They really love it.