Jolted

We all have stories or memories that jolt us awake at night or make us quickly and violently shake our heads to clear the memory of such an event in our lives. I had a jolt the other night... I was back in Iraq remembering the fact that I forgot my clear-lensed glasses so I could see clearly without tears flooding my vision as I rode in the gunner's hatch of a an up-armored "hummer". I remmeber the three men with AK's and RPG's that in the middle of the night decided it was time to shoot at me ....and I remember depressing the trigger of a light machine gun with a laser clearly painted onto the chest of the center man and effectively cutting these gents in half.....I remember dreaming about the 6 hour "firefight"that ensued that night and the bullwhip snaps that are indicative of bullets flying ever so closely to your own head...the "ting ...ting...ting" of bullets slamming into your truck from some very angry people to your front/left.

Then being teleported via dreamscape to the scene of which you dealt with a dying child who was shot in the chest and having the bullet travel in such a way that it took all but a sliver of her pancreas out of her lower right side and exiting her young body and slamming into her 4 year old sisters leg .....then you are transported to the helicopter ride in which you stabilized this young girl so she could get surgery at your base ......and how you stood outside the surgery suite for 4 hours waiting for this innocent child to make it ........only because you can't help but think of your own sweethearted daughter who you know you would do anything for......thats when I'm jolted awake...........man I miss war...........