it's a wonderful life

i know, i know...second post in one night - i must be really bored; but really, i had to say something about this.

i was flipping through the channels while i was lamenting my solitary confinement in waco, when i came across the opening credits for "it's a wonderful life." of course i've seen the movie a hundred times, it's one of my family's favorites, but i decided to sit down and watch it. i mean, heck what else do i have to do?



well i just finished watching it and i truly forgot what an amazing film it is. if you haven't seen it in awhile, you should do yourself the favor of watching it; if nothing else, it will get you in the christmas spirit. i can't help but think what a wonderful world it would be if everyone led his or her life like george bailey.





i also can't help but think about bedford falls and how amazing it is to live in a small community where everyone bands together in times of adversity. yesterday, shallowater, texas experienced this when we lost our first hometown boy in iraq. for a town of 2,086 residents, the loss of brynn naylor was a crucial blow and it has touched an unbelievable amount of people in a remarkably short time.


my daddy called me yesterday with the news after he had been one of the first people called to go visit with brynn's parents. my daddy's pretty much as tough as walker texas ranger, so when his voice started to crack, i knew something was wrong. he told me about the events of brynn's death, he told me that he loved me, and he told me that we can't waste one day of living.


i just can't believe all of this.


brynn had been in iraq for 15 months and was scheduled to be home in five days. five days. his family had plans. they were going to take a big trip for christmas. brynn was finally going to be able to do the things he loved. and now, his mamma will always associate his death with christmas.


i don't really know what else to say, i don't know if there is anything to say. i guess i'm just all too aware right now of the ultimate sacrifice that our military makes every single day. whatever your political leanings may be, none of that matters right now; none of it matters at all. our boys and girls are over there DYING so that we can live the way we do. this war has a human face and i think it's our job as civilians to never ever forget that. really, it's the least we can do.