Meet Becca Wagner and Bill McDannell and others.

I've been asked, when talking about "energy psychology" what that has to do with the topic of this blog (a lot!), and since then I am sensitive to address that when posting what some might not see as relevant. My net goes pretty far as I integrate energy, physics, birth trauma, medical training, betrayal and disempowerment of women, and midwifery. This post might not have to do with birth or hospital versus homebirth per se -- but it's my blog and I can talk about whatever I want to. ;--)

It's Memorial day. I speak often of my GI Joe who is currently deployed -- and, I do so often weaving my processing of this as a mother with thoughts on the state of birth in the US and the world. By the end, I promise it'll relate to the debate hospital versus homebirth.

A few months ago, as I crawled "out of the cave" as I affectionately referred to my sabbatical from life as my son's deployment splayed and flattened me for a few months, I began volunteering at KOPN 89.5 community radio in Columbia, MO. I began learning to "run the boards" and I have been doing 'in the community" news pieces and interviews. My heart for the babies and children of the troops and the babies and children of Afghanistan and Iraq have me working on some work for the radio. You might say I am making lemonade. (Remember the old saying, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade?")

Columbia entertained a huge airshow at the airport this weekend. Yesterday and today I collected a wonderful assortment of interviews from an amazing diversity of people -- peaceniks, shredders of their pamphlets, and an Army Captain who explained that he is proud to be wear the uniform and to be a part of ensuring the freedom of both of them to be there expressing their diverging opinions.

I interviewed Viet Nam vets, a young, freckle-faced recently-a-teenager in ROTC who is on proudly on-task to be a pilot in the USAF, and I even spoke to a local hero in our community. One our young Marines not only survived his fourth bullet, but it entered his cheek and exited the back of his head. His odds were nearly zero, but he survived, and he is still beating all odds and is making a miraculous recovery. He has his hearing, vision, and is not only walking, but back to jogging.

I talked to the mom of a Marine who is deployed for the fourth time. As the a band played patriotic music in the background she shared how much her family and church have meant to her. Her eyes teared and her voice waivered, and one of her sweet sons reached out and put his hand on her back to comfort her. I was touched by knowing how hard it is for families -- how our children, siblings and children of the troops, have had to grow up too fast and too soon. I cried more tears this past year than I have in the previous forty-nine put together. I was reminded of the days and times my own daughter has seen and felt too much this year.

I left soon to go to a prearranged interview with a little girl I had learned about. Ten year-old girl, Becca, touched my heart with her "letter to the editor" about her concerns for war and how it affects people. She has no one in the war and yet her tender, compassionate heart hurts so for the soldiers who are there, and for their families, and for the people of Iraq that she can not sleep at night. She and her mother talk every night about these concerns that seem to weugh so heavy on her heart. I am comforted many times with the simple thought that comes to me in moments -- that I know so many people support and are "praying for the troops." Maybe not by name, but they are praying for my GI Joe as well.

I was very touched talking to and looking into the soft, gentle, hurting eyes of this innocent little girl who said she's very worried about the soldier's families. Nights I've cried myself to sleep, I know now, there was a little girl praying for the soldiers and their families, and for the children of Iraq. She said several times how lucky she is to have her mother. How many other children are troubled by this war and have no one to speak to -- especially those whose mommies and daddies ARE in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Africa? Who will answer their questions about their desire for a safe and peaceful world? I wish I could "take away" Becca's pain and worry and tell her that her world will be ok. I can't, but I do know that she will be a part of making it so. I know we must all step up and do so for our children and their children.

Becca told me she wants "to be like Martin Luther King" and to tell a lot of people about peace and getting along with different people. Words from Rev. John Prenger at a fourth of July mass fifteen years ago made a huge impact on me then and I thought of his words again as I listened to Becca and wondered .... "Freedom isn't free," Father John had said. I realize more than ever that our freedom does and has had a huge price. Many people have died in the pursuit of freedom for our country and its people. And, like Becca, I still wonder today, WHY? Why does it have involve killing others and dying?

Today was the day we honor them -- those who step up to ensure our freedom. I shared with Becca what Army Captain Matthew D. Shaw from Ft. Leonardwood had told me at the airshow the day before --- about how proud he is to be a part of protecting our rights and freedoms in America. He said he is proud to wear the uniforn and was doing so so that she and I could be talking so freely about the war. Actually, he was referring to the five groups of people who were opposing the war and supporting the troops AND the group shredding their pamphlets. I was aware of how fortunate Becca and I both are to live in such a great country and I internally still share her pained question -- how to do so without war and killing?

This evening I interviewed Bill McDannell from San Diego, CA. He and his wife were passing through Columbia. They sold their home and he began WALKING in November and his intention is to take a petition to Congress in Washington, DC, asking them to bring the troops home now. His wife follows with him in a support vehicle -- now their home; a twenty-three year old camper that has had thirteen flat tires. WOW. She drives five miles ahead and waits for him. Bill walks about ten-15 miles a day since early November. His message? We need to take back our America. Bill is a Viet Nam veteran -- the war going on when I was Becca's age. I believe that we need to listen to our vets -- including those coming back and telling us the truth and the tragedy of Iraq. Bill wants to bring attention to the fact that both Afghanistan and Iraq have held their elections and chosen their government -- we no longer have a right nor do we need to be there. He has a petition on his site, www.wtetw.com (Walking to End the War.) Check it out.

My little friend, Becca, read her story for me to include in my piece on the Memorial Day activities honoring the fallen. She wants to know, "If we are taught at school not to push and hit each other and we have to say sorry, why do we have war to solve our problems?" She asks, "Why can't we talk about things at the table and just shake hands? Why can't the President's of the world that too?" Good question! from the heart of an innocent babe.

Visit Bill at his website where he updates daily. He and his wife sold their home to do this walk and half way across the country unforeseen events have eaten up their money. They could use some support to take this message to congress. Check out their site and please support their effort.

Personally, I am touched beyond words at their sacrifice to make this trip to draw the attention to the need to bring our troops home from a war that is not a war. As a mom of a soldier who is there, I look around in my community and in our country, and I see so little sacrifice while I feel my son's and our family's is so great. From August to December I did not drive a car -- I walked or took a bus, in part to honor my son as he was sacrificing so much. I happen to believe that the war is about protecting the oil supply and the dollar as the world standard in order to maintain our prosperous way of life (while in the rest of the world a child dies of extreme poverty every three minutes). I wanted to not use oil. I wanted to go longer, but my daughter deserved a warm car to ride in. Don't all children in world? It seems such a small sacrifice I made as I imagine what it is for Bill to walk 15 miles a day down the highway from San Diego to Washington, DC to take MY message to Congress. Bring our troops home.

God bless these people , young and old, who not only care about our soldiers, but DO SOMETHING. Words can't express my gratitude.

By the way, Becca was born at home in Missouri ten years ago -- with a non-nurse, but highly trained midwife. Ah - ha! There's the connection!! We know in my field that babies born at home are very peaceful and aware. You knew I'd weave it together, didncha?

Blessings to you and yours on Memorial Day.

ljm