"the poppies blow"

I am often told (and feel free to disagree) that I have a great way with words and should have went into a writing/journalism career instead of forensics. Apparently I am good at putting situations and experiences into words by writing from the heart...but there's my weakness right there...my heart.

There are 2 areas in my life which I find difficult to put into words. Firstly, and probably most importantly is anything that concerns affairs of the heart. I find it very difficult to let down my guard and tell someone how I feel, that I like them, potentially risking a chance at some sort of happiness. Words just fail me - I'm left tongue tied, red faced and nervous, like a giddy school girl and before I know it the chance is gone...conversation and time has moved on, maybe never to come around again for a 2nd chance..

And secondly, there are those situations when I am so full of anger or sorrow that no amount of words could express how I'm feeling - family funerals, teenage rows with parents when I was younger, fond farewells with friends, etc. Usually tears or a small, yet perfectly controlled tantrum is sufficient to let people know how I'm feeling.

The events of the past 3 days are one such example of a situation where my anger wipes away any words I could ever have used to describe how it makes me feel. I will openly admit that this terrible, innocent killing of a member of our armed forces brought tears to my eyes and for the past few days I haven't been able to focus at work as I follow the story as it develops. The men, and women of our military forces freely choose to fight for Queen and country, they put their lives on the line for our protection in war zones, so many of them never returning. But this drummer soldier of the fusiliers couldn't walk down a British street in London in his home country...

It doesn't take me to tell you that this killing has touched the hearts of everyone in the country, young and old, catholic and protestant, black and white. This was an innocent solider, Lee Rigby, hacked to death, excuse the terminology, and for what?! What on earth did these two men think they would achieve by committing such a terrible act in broad daylight for all to see, as if it was a street performance. What they didn't think they would achieve would be a nation united by grief and shock, stranding strong behind a small family unit who has now lost a son, brother, husband and father, and because of our national pride, that little boy will now grow up knowing that his dad is a hero to both those who knew him and the rest of us who did not until Wednesday.

I said I wasn't good with words for such a situation as this but I hope this can be seen as my personal tribute to a fallen soldier who like so many others has protected us with their life. These recent events then beg the question, who protects them..??

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

# In Flanders Fields - John McCrae #