North By Northport: June 2012

Like every other soldier in Afghanistan, our friend and colleague has spent his time working hard at his job and at staying alive. Now, his thoughts are turning toward coming home and what that will mean. For seven months he has written to us from (his words) “a part of the world that has gone mad.” Recently he worried, “I hear the real fun begins when you get home and are alone with your thoughts. At least here we are all sharing a common experience. But people at home who have no reference: they will not get it, or even want to get it.”

How do we begin to greet you back into this part of your changed world? Here is what we do get.

We will greet you with deep gratitude for the knowledge and skill you have poured into those you saved and tried to save: American boys, Afghan children, villagers, security forces, bystanders.

Thank you for your courage and simple eloquence in telling us even a part of what you’ve experienced.

We honor your brave example of how a physician/Buddhist/yogi/tri-athlete can bring quiet strength to bear in the face of horror, the mundane, and spiritual quagmire.

You have brought sandstorms of the sky and the heart to us with your steady conviction that even amidst the worst horrors, we need to seek small solace, to look for some affirmation. (Hug a Serb today).

Learn one, do one, teach one. Will it help you to know that you have brought understanding to many of us through your experience?

Some examples of what you've helped me notice;

Miriam at 100

At her own 100^th birthday party, our friend Miriam stood (for 40 minutes) and exhorted all of us to appreciate each day: to love our families right now: to stay interested and focus on the positive.