Thursday, July 12, 2007

Never enough



When my younger son, Sol was 18 he joined the navy. I was pretty freaked out but did my best to be supportive.

"Oh!" I said. "Well! That's great. But are you going on a ship?"

Sol actually traveled the world, just like the billboards promised.

I never stopped worrying about him and kept a world map over my desk at work with stick pins marking his voyage.

One day at work I went to the postoffice to retrieve a package he'd sent me from Mombasa, Africa. I hurried back to my office and while my co-workers watched I ripped it open, tore through the newspaper stuffing, unwrapping carved giraffes, wooden bookends of women with big bosoms, tiny black elephants and this beautifully carved and dyed mask. When I'd finished I sat down and wept.

It wasn't enough. What I wanted wasn't in the box, it wasn't some trinket...I wanted my son back, safe within my reach.

7 comments:

IreneNSC said...

This brings tears to my eyes and I'm sure the same to thousands of mom's whose sons are currently fighting the idiot's war!

Simple Recipes said...
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Simple Recipes said...

brought tears to my eyes also..agree with irenensc..idot's war...my brother was also in the navy and remember my mom feeling the same way when she would get a package from him..you have a great way with words!!

AMGallegos said...

The good news is that he made it back safe and sound!

jane d said...
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Katie Bowen said...

Tears to my eyes too. Being a mother, a parent; the love is so big it hurts.

Anonymous said...

You should have said so. I would've wrapped myself in newspaper and mailed myself home!! Thanks Mom.. Sol