Flashback

Grief is funny, triggers are unexpected and sometimes striking.

I had not been on Loyola University's Chicago campus since I moved from Loyola Ave. I used to walk the track located in the heart of the campus regularly. Tonight I wanted to attend a lecture by an author Tom Melville who has published a book "Through a Glass Darkly: The United States Holocaust in Guatemala." "The book is in paperback.) As a Maryknoller he was part of the original Catonsville 9-burned draft cards during the anti Vietnam War protests of the 60's. He was banished from Guatemala in the 50's and still cannot return. The presentation showed how clearly the CIA since the 50's has overthrown elected leaders for USA economic gain.

It was a wonderful night, a perfect fall evening as I headed out to make the 7 o'clock presentation. I came onto campus, looked straight ahead and saw the well lit track with grass in the middle and students all around. My heart stopped, I was back at Walter Reed and I began to tear up. I used to walk the track out behind Mologne House on post. Some of the best times for me as I tried to ease the stress of Walter Reed was to walk outside on the track at night in the spring of 2006. The trees were blooming and it brought peace to my anguished soul.

Tonight I felt the terror of arriving at Walter Reed for the first time after dark. Being driven to the apartment then on to Jason's room and what awaited me there. Two years later and it sears my soul. I told Tom just a minute of the story and he autographed his book, "For Katy: for a peace mother with a heart of gold and steel."