Scott is in Iraq

[Trek420]

If anyone is interested in sending care packages, PM me. He would appreciate any cycling mags, and news of the racing season as the summer progresses. Actually, he would appreciate any reading material. He's a history buff, also.

Robyn, I was just 'bout to send a batch of cycling magazines to our other cycling soldier, MSG Hall. If I send them to Scott, when he'd done can he send them to MSG Hall? Is there something like regional mail?

[Crankin]

I don't think they have "regional" mail.
Why don't you wait a bit to send the next batch to Scott? You should send MSG Hall his stuff. Or, you could send Scott a Passover package!
Let me know.

Robyn

[Triskeliongirl]

Hey Robin, I have some fairly recent VeloNews and Bicycling I'd be happy to send. I also have some cycling books (written by cycle tourists if you think he'd like that). What kind of history is he interested in? My son also has a pretty good collection of books on history, military history in particular, and I could select something from his bookshelf as well to include. PM me with the address.

How are YOU doing? As a mom, I can only imagine what you must be going through, and hope your whole family can find peace, and of course that Scott is not injured and returns home soon. How long is expected to be deployed?

[Bad JuJu]

The Chief and I both hope for a safe tour for your son, Robyn. We both spent 20 years in the navy (which is why I still call him "the Chief" ), so we empathize with you in this time of family separation.

What historical period is your son most interested in? I have an assortment that ranges from Victorian England to 20th-century U.S. (including a lot of POW narratives from the Vietnam war era).

[Crankin]

Trisk and Ju Ju,

To answer all of your questions:

I am actually doing fine. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but it doesn't feel different than any of his other deployments, which were not in dangerous places. When it comes to really "bad" things I am usually very strong; after going through all of medical stuff last fall, I have a better attitude toward everything! I am very busy right now, having gone back to teaching at my old school until the end of the year. Right now it's testing season and we are writing our last essay. Then I am going to do Shakespeare with them and do a performance of "A Midsummer Night's dream," something that I said I would never do again! Of course, it's the beginning of the cycling season, and I have a considerable amount of work to do to get back in shape. Oh yes, and PT and acupuncture. So, I am busy and tired at the end of the day.
The Marines do deployments for seven months, so he will be back in October. He told us that he is sick of having to always come here to see us and he will be taking a vacation somewhere else when he gets back. So, we are planning a trip out to San Diego to see him for Thanksgiving. I understand that; he wants to travel. My dad and brother live there, too, so it will be a family type vacation. I am just happy that he is talking about "when he gets out," which won't be for 4 more years, but he is talking about it. When he was home, we did talk about him going back to school, which I have to tread lightly on. It's hard for me not to go on my Jewish mother rampage about quitting college! I think he may end up in Boulder or Flagstaff, which would fine for him, since he's so athletic and outdoorsy. He's jokingly never forgiven us for leaving Arizona (he was five). It's harder for me to accept that someone of his intelligence would want to enlist than for me to accept that he is in Iraq. And that's not even going into my anti-war years marching on the Boston Common. I am over that.
OK, off of my soapbox. He would love reading the Viet Nam era stuff and he also likes European history. I bet he would enjoy getting packages with anything. I did tell him some crazy cycling women might be sending him stuff.

[Trek420]

Does he like art? I have a fairly hefty amount of art history.

[Crankin]

He is not really into art, but he doesn't "dislike" it, either. The breadth and depth of his knowledge never ceases to amaze me, so if you have some art books focusing on historical periods, that would probably be OK.

[Trek420]

Lemme see what I've got, might have some Bauhuas history, the famous German school of art that founded so much of modern design was closed by the Nazi govt.