I don’t really talk about super personal stuff on here much. Nor do I leave vague status updates like I did last night. I am sorry about that. Many of you have heard that my ex-husband, Tomas Young, passed away. I don’t talk about that part of my life much anymore, so many of you don’t even know that I was married, or that he was severely wounded in Iraq. Tomas and I treated each other poorly at the end of our relationship, but we were lucky enough to reconnect and make amends about 6 months ago. Just before he and his (beautiful, strong, and simply amazing) wife, Claudia, moved to Portland. I am so grateful that Tomas and I were able to make peace. I know his body was so tired, and he had fought for so long. I am glad he is at rest. And while I do not agree with every statement he made, or always the way in which he stated things, there is no denying he made a large important impact. He shared the cost of war when most don’t. The cost of war is real. And it hurts. I was proud to be his wife, even when I didn’t act like it. I am honored to have met the other families affected by the war. They occupy my dreams to this day, and I continue to shed tears for their losses. For their loved ones who never came home, for their time apart as families, for the changes in their outlooks and the things they had to witness and participate in. I express my deepest gratitude to them for their sacrifices. To the veterans who offered their lives. I know my gratitude is never enough. But that is all I have. On this Veteran’s Day I say with everything that I have, Thank You! And to Tomas, rest in peace. And thank you for the time that I had with you. Your life affected everyone you met. I am the therapist I am, and the wife that I am, because of you and what we were. Thank you.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:11:41 +0000