[Rhodes22-list] Matters of the heart.

[The Rhodes 22 Email List]

Hey Rummy:
     Not to downplay the serous nature of your circumstances, but it comes at a time (even in your warmer clime) when sailing is less of a distraction. And, this seems like a good reason to abandon the tiller.  That whole Vietnam thing played havoc with the era's young men.  You guys were sacrificed to satisfy the military complex as well as political and personal egotism, I have many friend, just slightly older than me, who still feel the pain of that time. I am friends with a poet named Bruce Weigl ("Song of Napalm") who still relives that pain from time to time. His perceptions are in his poetry... great stuff.
     Not that it is a comfort to you, but here is a poem I wrote (then rewrote with Bruce's advice) about the experience of a former POW from the perspective of his wife. So, it will be my Christmas present to you. Make the best of your experience. It can remind you of life's true values.  It will be like sailing a good reach.Best of luck.  Here's the poem.
Joe Camp   s/v John Dawson
    Things You Said                                                JJCamp
 
You saidthat box hadholeslarge enoughto let you see, butsmall enoughto keep youin.You couldn’tstretch couldn’tstand brokenbones, brokendreamsunbroken will: smallvictorieswon at greatexpense.And youtried to thinkofme—here—waiting.You told methatyou used todrink yourpiss.  “Kept me alive,”you said.And I havetriedto imaginethose thingsyou saystill haunt.But nocontext in painadmits me toyour rancid dreams.And I wasalways safe.Always safe.You’ve saidthat you’re OK now:“It’s over,done.”But everytime we kissthere’s justa hintof urine on your breath.                                                3April 2013            
 

 
(thanks to Bruce Weigl)            

   
 
      From: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
 To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org 
 Sent: Friday, December 19, 2014 6:33 AM
 Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Matters of the heart.
   
I just wanted to let everyone on the list know that I will be out of  
commission for a while. Monday I'm having heart bypass surgery. I will be in the  
hospital recovering for about a week and then two months at home before I 
can  even drive. The prognosis is good and I'm confident the procedure will 
be  successful. My problems are both hereditary and exposure to agent orange 
in  Vietnam. Hopefully the VA will step up and provide me with extended 
medical  benefits in the future.
You all behave yourselves. I will probably be monitoring the list in the  
hospital, but not able to respond.
 
Rummy
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