So I've this outrageously funny friend who is a very fiesty woman of Italian heritage.
I met her through most unusual means when she worked for child support enforcement years ago, she was enormously supportive, and we became fast friends. Since then she's switched over to the welfare fraud division of DHS.
So I call her several times a year pretending to report myself as fraudulent (though I'm not even on welfare) just to make her laugh and lighten her day as she has to contend with constant BS. She makes house calls on ineligible recipients who's partners are often hiding under the bed or running out of apartments clad only in their underwear. Her job is a trip.
Today I called her pretending to want to file a claim against the head of household at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. She said, "you want to and so does everybody else."
We laughed.
Then we caught up. We hadn't spoken in probably 6 months or so.
She had endured since she was a teen, one of the worst and most grueling marriages of which I'd ever heard. I've heard of some extreme circumstances but this guy was a complete and total wanker. She finally off loaded him a couple years ago. Phew.
Then about a year later she met a gentle giant through her family and I can just tell that this guy is the salt of the earth and she is happier than I've ever heard ber sound. However he is an older guardsman and has just been reactivated to go to Iraq in the not too distant future.
I am mortified. She's got a great attitude nonetheless.
One person I know already lost her only son over there.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1363739I'll pray my ass off for this guy's safety and support her in every way I can. But this truly sucks and for what ends. . .the further enrichment of a very few at the expense of the health and well being of so many on all sides. . .? It's got to stop.
Of course I've always been a pacifist and don't think anything is ever resolved through violence. When this illegal invasion now is directly impacting the lives of those I love it takes on a very different pallor and it aches like hell.
Just needed to vent.
thanks