A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.
WAR WOUND
In research for a character in my novel-in-progress, I’ve watched some You Tube interviews with Vietnam veterans. Recently, one in particular captured my attention. The gentleman, who’s had a successful career as an actor since his discharge, spoke candidly of his deployment and subsequent wounding.
“Thirty years later, after bouts of alcoholism and depression I sought help for PTSD and found healing.”
He shrugged. “Thanks for your service? What does that mean? I get it. You mean well.” His voice caught in his throat and my breath caught in mine when he said, “I like best what we vets say to each other since we didn’t hear it when we came back, ‘Welcome home.’”
Very touching, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Jo.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is great. And so true. Great artwork.
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Thanks, m’luv. It’s a great video. I’ve watched it twice. Really touched me deeply.
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Well done, Rochelle. I just finished a good memoir on Vietnam and I’ve started another. I enjoy the topic. Good luck with your work in progress. Love your art too.
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Dear Bill,
It’s sad that most of our appreciation of those vets are retrospective, isn’t it? My husband, who didn’t serve over there, still got spit on when he wore his uniform in public. Thank you for your encouraging comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes. Things have changed, thankfully.
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So powerful.
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Thank you, Sadje.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome Rochelle. Salam!
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Heart wrenching. You captured Home – the meaning and the irony. יופי
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תודה רבה מיכל
שלום
רחל 😀
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I have to say I never understood the seemingly widespread antipathy to the grunt on the ground while the politicians sailed on untroubled.
Strong piece, m’lady
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Dear CE,
It does boggle the mind, doesn’t it? Those poor guys really didn’t have a choice, for the most part. Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A thought-provoking piece accompanied by a lovely picture Rochelle. Thanks, for sharing.
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Many thanks on both counts, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This is absolutely wonderful. Not that all a vet wants only to hear “Welcome Home” because that is a sad reality. You wrote this beautifully,
Happy Mother’s Day!
Shalom and Lotsa welcome love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I just watched that video last week. As you can see it left an impression. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz_Fxu1vA1Q in case you want to watch it. No obligation.
In any event, thank you for the comment.
Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Shalom and lotsa welcoming hugs,
Rochelle
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🙂
I’ll check it out!
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Keep a tissue handy.
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How odd – I thought I commented on this yesterday and only now realize that I never did complete the comment, and then must have signed off … and if it weren’t for your comment on my post, I wouldn’t have stopped by again to check. These fairies are up to some mischief again …
And … yes, war wounds in ways that often cannot be verbalized. And too many have returned home to a society that did not understand, to some who even vilified them (though many did not have a real choice in being deployed), and to many who had no interest in understanding.
Thank you for shining a light on this, as you so often manage to do for the unspoken.
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I admit to being a hypersensitive comment junkie…at least with those whose comments I value.
Seriously, it hurts to realize how unfairly those men were treated.
Thank you your gracious comments to a noodge.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A good noodge! I’m not averse to noodging from people whose posts I read (let alone when I also tried to comment on, and got distracted, and never actually sent the comment! How would I know if it weren’t for a nudge? See??!). As for hypersensitivities – we all have’em, to some things. Makes us human, me thinks.
🙂
Also, I am very ‘yay’ to be in the ‘comment valued section’! 😀
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😘
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An attempt at amends has been made to some Viet Nam vets in that they got to go on a flight and reenter with the welcome they didn’t get on their return from Nam. (I tried to find the link to Charli Mills’ post on it at Carrot Ranch but was unsuccessful) I also can’t remember the title of a really good book I read written by a Viet Nam Vet that does a really good job of explaining the view points and the era. (gave the book to a vet)
So basically, I have been no help here at all, but I can say I thought that was a wonderful flash and I will watch the video you mentioned.
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Dear D.
I’m so glad you watched the video. What a touching interview. Thank you for your kind words and I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
SO powerful. And how true is this? The fact that these men were not welcomed home, by and large? That they were treated as scapegoats is a black mark on our nation’s history, no doubt about it.
As with all vets I’ve come across, they’re selfless too. They supply us all with some much needed humility, tell you what.
Very well done.
Shalom,
Marco
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Dear Marco,
It was definitely a black mark on our history. Thank you so much for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Darn! Broke my heart! No winners in war, is there?
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Dear Joy,
Nope, no winners at all and that war was a lose/lose proposition. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So amazing!!
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Thank you, Maddie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Of course! If you wouldn’t mind following back as well xox
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Done. 😀
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Thank you! I look forward to seeing more of your future blog posts!!
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Please feel encouraged to check out my recent blog post regarding PTSD awareness day (today, June 27th) or just the overall PTSD awareness month of June! Thank you❤️
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