Kate Hoit’s letter to her Mom
Kate Hoit and I had a rocky start, but I’ve come to like her, and I think she evolved somewhat, too. But that has been the way most of my friendships have begun. For some reason, a lot of people find me abrasive in the beginning. I guess it was the Army’s fault since they taught me to be the best jerk I can be.
But, anyway, Kate wrote an open letter to her mother from where currently works at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and I hope she doesn’t mind if I quote part of it;
My mom supported me when I decided to join the U.S. Army. She showed up to my basic training graduation in a bright red suit and an American flag scarf tied around her neck. She supported me as I packed my bags for Iraq. She emailed me almost daily while I was overseas just to tell me that she loved me. She screamed and cheered and cried as I walked across the stage at my college graduation. She watched as I packed a single suitcase and headed to D.C. to take my first real job. She is the reason why I’m here today.
My mother was definitely happier when I left the Army than when I joined, and she wasn’t very happy when I volunteered to go back on active duty at the age of 50, but she was always there to support whatever I did. She and my step-sisters bent over backwards to throw a party for me when I came back from Desert Storm, and it was nice to know that through all of my journeys and assignments, mom was always there to welcome me home. I guess that’s why we always say that we go off to fight for her and apple pie.
Happy Mothers’ day to Kate’s Mom, my Mom, my kids’ Mom and all of the Moms out there.
Category: Who knows
…My Mom – gone two years now – was a tough, no-nonsense, old-school Italian Roman Catholic who never did quite figure out why I decided to do twenty years in the USAF. But she always supported me, right to the end.
Love you, Mom. Second star to the right, straight on till morning.
Mike
My mother was more than anxious to sign the papers for me to enlist at 17….but fast forward 22 years, she was ecstatic when I retired.
Kate is an awesome writer; good Mothers Day letter.
I like apple pie.
“For some reason, a lot of people find me abrasive . . . ”
No more so, than reality itself is “abrasive.”
Objective (good) judgment is considered “rude” nowadays.