Only The Strong
Got a call today from a friend I hadn't heard from in a while.
Matt's one of those silently amazing guys...women all adore him-they sense he's honorable, kind, loving, strong. He's a rock. In times of crisis, he can be counted on. And, oh, is he so modest.
This guy has led an interesting life. He's a Vietnam Vet, he's former NYPD, former Counter-terrorist Unit... Although he's been retired from the military for a while now, he still consults with them. Especially after 9-11. Which means he's been spending a lot of time in D.C. and I haven't seen him nearly as often as we both like.
Somehow, we became good friends. Maybe it's the whole kindred spirits thing. He gets me. He hears a lot of what I don't say.
The thing about him though...is he's modest. Matt was captured in 'Nam. He had both his knees broken, his hands broken...his knuckles in those hands badly damaged. He's self conscious about wearing shorts because he's still got scars on his knees from recovering. The knuckles of his hands will never be quite the same. The man was, afterall, tortured. He's a bona fide P.O.W. But he doesn't see it that way...because he was rescued within hours.
But he survived the torture... And he's a very gentle man. And an amazing friend.
So it blew me away today when he told me that he thinks I'm a strong person both mentally and emotionally. Coming from him, that's a huge compliment.
I really didn't know what to say.
He really needs to look in the mirror.
Matt's one of those silently amazing guys...women all adore him-they sense he's honorable, kind, loving, strong. He's a rock. In times of crisis, he can be counted on. And, oh, is he so modest.
This guy has led an interesting life. He's a Vietnam Vet, he's former NYPD, former Counter-terrorist Unit... Although he's been retired from the military for a while now, he still consults with them. Especially after 9-11. Which means he's been spending a lot of time in D.C. and I haven't seen him nearly as often as we both like.
Somehow, we became good friends. Maybe it's the whole kindred spirits thing. He gets me. He hears a lot of what I don't say.
The thing about him though...is he's modest. Matt was captured in 'Nam. He had both his knees broken, his hands broken...his knuckles in those hands badly damaged. He's self conscious about wearing shorts because he's still got scars on his knees from recovering. The knuckles of his hands will never be quite the same. The man was, afterall, tortured. He's a bona fide P.O.W. But he doesn't see it that way...because he was rescued within hours.
But he survived the torture... And he's a very gentle man. And an amazing friend.
So it blew me away today when he told me that he thinks I'm a strong person both mentally and emotionally. Coming from him, that's a huge compliment.
I really didn't know what to say.
He really needs to look in the mirror.
posted by katsmeow at 2:35 PM
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