HOW I LEARNED TO COMMUNICATE (Please Read)
Bryan,
I was in the military during VietNam and I wouldn't write my parents for anything. One day our CO a full Colonel call me into his Command Center and begin to read me the riot act about not writing home. By that time I was thinking how in the world did he know I wasn't writing. Standing next to him was a civilian from the American Red Cross. What my parents did is notifyed them that I wasn't staying in touch and they were worried to death. They dispatched a rep to a forward A Camp to inform my CO on this matter. Anyway to make a long story short I was given a direct order to write home on a regular basis.
Let me tell you having a Colonel, dress you down is worst then any punishment that a parent can dish out. From that time on I wrote once a month and you know it became easy to let them know that I was okay. There were times I had alot to say and other times just to say HI. That became my relief valve and it enable me to keep the faith that one day I would go home as a whole person.
That situation help me to understand the importance of communications and I live by that today.. Now I'm not saying anyone is given you a direct order but communications is good for the soul its a pressure relief valve.
Just drop in to say (Hi) is all anyone of us is asking, if you have something more to say then HI, that is great also.
I hope you all donot mind me sharing this with everyone.