My Mother-In-Law

I did a lot of writing today. But instead of trying to key it all in, I just thought I would type this entry about my mother-in-law, Melissa. She's as much one of my heroes as my father, though for entirely different reasons. My father, of course, set the standard for being a man in my opinion. He did three tours in Viet Nam, ultimately winning the Silver Star for heroism. Mildly shell-shocked and shot all up, he personified manhood for me from my earliest memories. Completing the mission, initiative in the absence of orders, do what you're told, being good is never good enough, and we do the difficult daily, the impossible takes a little more time. These are all axioms that I learned from my father, and internalized as I chased after my ideals of manhood.

Melissa (Mom) is a case study in the American virtue of perseverance. Two bad marriages each left her penniless and often in debt. Each time, she built herself up from bankruptcy for the good of her daughters, often working two jobs, full time so her daughters wouldn't want for anything. She never quit, though I imagine there were many overwhelming moments, when the stress was so powerful she couldn't even cry. And yet, she always fought the odds and clawed her way back to the top. She worked herself ragged, helping to pay Jessica's way through her Bachelor's Degree. She has also taken it upon herself to organize a "Support Her Troop" function with her church and workplace, ensuring a constant supply of cards and packages during my two deployments, both for me and for my men. It must be the most rewarding experience to look back on a life of struggle and know that by every standard, you have succeeded.