tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494571564640473575.post7022279124198402278..comments2023-10-09T07:29:21.882-07:00Comments on Fieldnotes: Can you chop these carrots? - defining normalcy in an abnormal worldJessica C. Warchal-Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870731216307816918noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494571564640473575.post-40139699813638009982016-09-02T18:08:04.242-07:002016-09-02T18:08:04.242-07:00Dearest Michael, Thank you. First and foremost, th...Dearest Michael, Thank you. First and foremost, thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences. Thank you for your honesty! Thank YOU for your vulnerability in sharing your story, in being present in your experiences, and in the moments that you continue to reflect on and challenge those of us with whom you share. <br />Thank you for reading my post and seeing me in my words. The edge is a scary place, but it is a place of honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability in a way that often is unpopular in our society. <br />And yet... in our own way, there are so many of us rocking on that edge. <br />Thank you for being a cheerleader. Thank you for being a leader and a champion. <br />Thank you for the challenge to continue rocking on the edge. <br />I have reflected on and re-read your comment several times before responding and I am grateful for the challenge to think, pause, and respond. <br />Thank you to Ellen. Thank you to your Mom. Thank you to the folks at the University of Kentucky, West Point, and your family and neighbors. It takes a village..., as I'm learning in my own life and creative journey..., to be perfect in all of our imperfections and accept the beauty of the process. Thank you!Jessica C. Warchal-Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06870731216307816918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6494571564640473575.post-7464296464103758992016-08-26T11:14:44.256-07:002016-08-26T11:14:44.256-07:00you really play on the edge here...I remember vivi...you really play on the edge here...I remember vividly returning from Vietnam w medals, 825 combat missions, thinking I had done great things for our army and the vietnamese people...as a gun ship pilot I was a guard dog, going to combat everyday, coming back home and trying to be normal in a family where mom was the caregiver and decision maker, a minefield in itself. the only thing that saved us is Ellen and I moved to University of Kentucky where I worked toward a doctorate in languages and literatures...a peaceful time for us to regather in the little house we bought with a 4-5 year old and an infant and neighbors and friends. We were both of us struggling with expectations unfulfilled, but the unstructured nature of our life away from army saved us and set us up as family leaders to make a huge impact at West Point. I still don't know normal without appeal to the larger natural and biological imperatives, family that constantly nurtures its members (I am accused of being a huge cheerleader...I accept that) everyone deserves every day to hear how wonderful they are, beautiful, thoughtful, important...surely you know what 'm saying as a dancer-choreographer with your lovely dancers men and women striving to be perfect.<br /><br />This is a challenge and you will be awesome.Michael S Lancasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09725136792801260586noreply@blogger.com