![Davis-Poster[1]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2736589659_4e90471270_o.jpg)
Phil Dynan from Red Bluff Gallery, Red Bluff, CA invited me to show a piece in the Between Worlds show at the University of California Davis.
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About Me
There are two dogs inside, the one you feed is the one that grows.
3 comments:
YES YES YES
Hi Scott
I've seen it a lot. In many forms. Too many times. Yet last time I saw it another it was in full blown bloom. He had taken my chair in the waiting room, it was my chair, he had gotten to it first and he needed it more then I did. I know why he picked it. I wish I could describe him, I wish I could have taken a moving picture of him. I wouldn't have invaded his space, but wanted to so badly. I wanted it to show the world what it looks like when it is raging. I am not a touchy feely person, but I would have if it would have been right and perhaps I failed at not sitting next to him. I know how to use the words too, but he was in full meltdown and in the exact place he needed to be, he kept his appointment.
I don't see at as often in my generation's vets. Maybe we hide it better, maybe there are other reasons. Sometimes I would wake in the night only to see a roommate quietly sitting in a dark room in a "safe chair" wide awake staring. I could spot one coming through the bar door. My combat wasn't theirs, mine wasn't on their battle fields.
He sat forward on the edge of the seat, in the safe area, the chair is the safest in the room. Rocking back and forth. Hunched over, elbows on his knees with his hands covering his eyes. When he did, sometimes, uncover his eyes, the pain was unbearable to see. He wasn't in the room at all and perhaps just being at the VA waiting room was a trigger, I don't know. But it was the full blown thousand yard stare, that hollow look. Dark circles around his eyes. He was young and so old. I don't know if it was for him or myself that I wanted to cry.
My fingers are shaking as I try to write this. I only hope they make it to the rooms. But he made it to that one.
They have put a limit on the time, 2 years, for those coming home, those that might make it home to report any problems. That is a crime and abomination. It has a very nasty habit of not appearing till much later, for many reasons, and it can resurface again. The scars never really go away. Watch for them in the rooms and let's hope they make it that far.
Sometimes just sitting next to them a chair away is all that is needed. Some times a simple smile will ease it. It takes practice to find the words. In a sense I'm lucky, because we have bond. I never saw combat, but we still have that bond. They need to know the bond is still there, even if you aren't a vet. It's kind of like, I'll watch your back for you brother, take care of the business you need to, to get healthy. I know that statement, I'll watch your back for you, might seem to come out wrong, but it won't be to them. You just need to word it better.
I feel better now and my fingers have stopped shaking, almost. Working on it.
OMG! i squealed with delight, very happy for you and to see your work featured on that bulletin :)
that whole theme is very intriguing.
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