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Anne Clifton's avatar

I remember when I was growing up, my mother showed me a letter that her friend, J.H. Joyner, had written to her. I can't remember whether it was before he left to fight in WW2, or after he was deployed. What I do remember is that he seemed to have a premonition that he was going to die in battle, and indeed he did. After my mother's death I really wanted to find that letter, but never did. Why do we always wait until it's too late before we ask to hear the stories and to record them?

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TriTorch's avatar

Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been. —Kurt Vonnegut

Discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. —Jim Rohn

If you do find it eventually, please write about it on your Substack Anne.

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Anne Clifton's avatar

It won't be found. My estranged brother cast me out of my mother's house when I was trying to help clean and pick out items I wanted to keep, and I don't expect to ever enter it again. It's his house now.

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Kathleen Janoski's avatar

Anne, that is so sad.

Thanks once again for your Substack and your care for veterans.

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Anne Clifton's avatar

It's not that sad to me, Kathleen. It's a relief that 20+ years of his harassment have ended. Still, I stand ready and willing to have a relationship with him, IF there is real change.

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Dawn B's avatar

I just read your different war article and it made me reflect on what I know and believe. What I realize is we can only make a difference where we are at the moment. If we all decided to do good, then it would spread, but evil is spreading faster now and has taken that innocence of the time when good morals were admired.

We don't know the truth about wars but they all were manipulated by evil and still are. I can only think that God has to fix this world.

I thought this documentary hit a lot of truth behind the scenes of war but likely just a fragment of the horrors.

Beyond Treason - military and civilian experimentation, dating back over 60 years

https://www.bitchute.com/video/fO0gHigoRFGf/

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Kathleen Janoski's avatar

Good attitude.

Keep me updated on that veteran who was exposed to toxic substances while in the military. It was sad to read that he is in a non-VA nursing home. So young...

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Emumundo's avatar

You never know how your family will react until you go through a funeral.

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ILoveherbs's avatar

Anne, I'm sorry to hear this, the reality of some family situations. May you find peace.

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Anne Clifton's avatar

Thank you, ILoveherbs. I do have peace because of Jesus. I guess I'm just at the age where I'm becoming nostalgic. ✝️

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SHARON MAHOE's avatar

I know someone who told me some months ago, “it’s only things!” I am trying to sort and purge…LOL. Well, Hmmm, at the time, she had a property at a lake, a condo and a summer property not in winter state……I only have one. But … having three properties, doesn’t that mean Things!??

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Lyndsay's avatar

There’s an amazing service called Live On that my dad recently recorded (over zoom) his childhood history to today, and all the stories he wants to pass on to us and his grandchildren. Stories he knows about his grandparents and the line of ancestry too. A lady named Ruth guides the session, asks great questions and a man named David does all the technical work. They are excellent at making it a wonderful professional quality keepsake. I was so impressed with my dads video that even though I’m young, I purchased a session for myself, and have already recorded my interview of my first 42 years. I figure my children will love to see me as younger than if I waited another 20 years plus I have a lot of stories about my children growing up fresh in my mind that I want to preserve. The website is live on services, I will try to post a link. Highly recommend.

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Anne Clifton's avatar

Sounds interesting and I think I found the website. https://liveon.services/

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Lisa Ca's avatar

👍🏻

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Lisa Ca's avatar

Wow this is amazing. I would love my dad and mom to do this. !!! thanks for sharing. About how much does it cost?

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SHARON MAHOE's avatar

Wow! That is wonderful !

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Dawn B's avatar

Sharing that was enough even when the letter was lost. Some things are meant to just be remembered and appreciated and you did. Cherish it and live in the day as it will be history too. I believe God sees and remembers and that is what matters most.

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Lisa Ca's avatar

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

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