This is not new, the lack of perspective from Americans. One of my best friends is 83 and married right after WWII ended. Her husband had been a tank commander for Patton, married her, and brought her to Germany. She came from a rather wealthy family in SC, and said that before she arrived in Germany, she was always whining about not being able to get stockings and there was no sugar for her tea. She said she got to Germany where the roads were blown out, mass grieving in the towns from the losses, the lack of basic essentials, her husband had just liberated one of the first concentration camps… and she thought to herself how petty and selfish she had been.

I lived in a 3rd world developing country when I was growing up. Open ditches for sewer, people going to the bathroom in the streets, I probably ate more dog and cat than I wish to know, electricity was hit or miss, we dared not drink the water… or the milk for that matter, and living in a Country unlike ours will change you.

I can be a minimalist as minimalist here in America is still heads and shoulders above what most have in this world and *I* realized it. My true needs are basic, my family to love, food, drink, shelter, and scant clothes. My wants are few, books, music… and a place to wash my clothes and keep clean.

But you compare that to that of my spouse’s, a very good hardworking man, who has never left the US, and we are on different planets. We could not be more polarized on our expectations of life and what makes us happy.

Until one bears witness to how others in countries with far less, with TRUE poverty live, and not American poverty, but REAL NO KIDDING poverty, they cannot understand.

My mother says often, that she wishes there was some invention where you could transfer your pain to your doctor so he could completely understand. I’ll take it a step further and say I wish there was a way we could transfer our life experiences to another, so people would gain a better perspective.

You have been forever altered. Your views on life will NEVER be what they were. You may one day get irritated by something trivial as you adapt back into our society, but it will never be what it was. Ever.

I think of you every day and pray you are well. This comment has been brewing for awhile… it just took a sleepless night (too much coffee too late in the day) for me to sit down and put it out here.

My best to you, RSM.

Take care of yourself.

Now stay safe and warm as you can. I hope you managed to cook something pleasing while home…

I probably whine a fair amount myself but find I have little patience for it from other people.

Hang in there, I’m hoping the next leave will be much improved.