Posted 1:10 PM by Paul
Here's to the Boys Who Never Had to Go to War

My mum died on Friday 5th September at 10.35 a.m. surrounded by all her kids and one of her grandkids. Later I will post some kind of tribute to her, which hopefully will have some resonance with others who have lost a hard working, life affirming passionate leader of their family.

Mom lost her older brother Harry in North Africa in the Second World War. He was killed in a tank battle. Recently married and nearly too old for the call up he died thousands of miles away from England in a war that Mum and all her generation knew that we had to win. She kept him close to her heart right to the end.

A few months before she died, Mum and I were watching the news on TV. Same old tale of woe, death and destruction. She looked across to me and said, "I am so glad that I haven't had to watch any of you march off to war."

Tonight I am thinking of her and all the grieving American, Iraqi, Israeli and Palestinian moms who have had to bury their sons and daughters over the last few days.

So much wasted life. So much lost promise.