Sunday, May 12, 2013

Not Your Average Mother's Day

For those of you that have been under a rock, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, three women who were kidnapped 9, 10 and 13 years ago escaped with the assistance of a neighbor, Charles Ramsey who heard her screams for help while eating his McDonald's.

Today I saw a picture that reminded me of these three wonderfully courageous women; in particular, Amanda Berry who started to escape through a door and screamed for help catching the attention of a neighbor, who eventually kicked the door in and took her to call 911.


This picture of Rapunzel returning home to her mother after being kidnapped by Mother Gothel 17 years prior made me think of these wonderful women. Sadly, unlike Rapunzel, these women were not 'rescued' by Flynn Rider, though I'm sure in the years to come a bond will form between them and Charles.

Gina returned home under police escort, and has remained within her childhood home. Her party threw a rather large party to celebrate her return home. Amanda and her daughter now reside within the cocoon created by her family at her sister's house; sadly her own mother passed just a few years after her disappearance always believing that Amanda was the victim of human trafficking. Michelle's story breaks my heart just a little more; 20 when she went missing her family wasn't even sure that she was kidnapped and thought that she had simply chosen to take off after loosing custody of her son. She spent most of the week in the hospital, leading myself to believe that he physical condition was worse off that that of Amanda and Gina. Though she has also thanked the public for their support, she remains in a place of her choosing, keeping distance between herself and her family.

Right now, these ladies are trying to recover mentally and physically from wounds that we as a public cannot begin to comprehend. Today they released statements via a spokesperson thanking the world for their outpouring of support, but begging to be left in privacy.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

I understand that military wives want their spouses to appreciate them, but honestly, as a military spouse I don't understand the need to be recognized by the entire population. That's it... not a long post tonight, just a slight musing.