A conversation

Hello all,
I was going to post something different...or not at all as my guest post is still up at Val's.

But my head and heart are full of something else right now and I always type brain to keyboard...so you get what you get.

I have a conversation buddy.
He lives next door.
He is five.
He is a talker.
He tells me all sorts of stuff.
Two weeks ago, He told me his dad was going to afghanistan...and that he was going to visit family in ohio but they were going to have to go through washington and texas first.
I said "That's a long trip."
He said "yep'.
"You can go now."
When we are done with our conversations, he always dismisses me.

Today my friend amber came over to ask me if I 'knew' the lady next door to me to my right.
I said no..I have talked to her twice.
I have talked to the little guy many, many times.
Well, My friend says that two officers in dress uniform came to her house today and left one hour later.
My husband went to Iraq four times.
I know what that means.
I didn't know what to do.
So I let it lie figuring I will go over in a day or two with some meals and a card.
But,
as I am going out to the mailbox I see little man standing by the fence.
So I go and say hi...
and this was our conversation.
Hi (this is me)
Hi...
I say How are you doing...
He says "good'.
"I had my eighth day of kindergarten today."
I say wow...you are getting really good at counting.
(I am crouching so that I am actually below is line of sight...this helps kids talk..they don't feel like you are a giant.)
He says..."Yes, I am learning to count popsicles and cathy took my popsicle bucket.."
this goes on for a while...he tells me he is Team Captain and that he likes it.
I say "I bet your good at it'
he says "My daddy died today."
I said 'I know'
Then he starts crying...and says "He went to heaven and is never, ever, ever coming back"
"I can't see him anymore and he can't see me."
I say "He can see you from heaven."
He says "He can?"
I say "Yes."
He said..."can I go to heaven"
I say 'not for a very long time...and your dad wants you to stay here a long time."
He said "My dad had an army shirt on and now he can't ever take the army shirt off."
I said "Yes he can...cause when you get to heaven you give up your old clothes and you get a white robe that shines like the sun."
He says "You do?"
I said "Yes."
I am crying by this time...cause I just can't stop it.
and he is giving me a hug over the fence...
He says, "But I still miss him.."
I said "That's okay...to miss him and to hurt"...we will miss the people who die"
But do you know who Jesus is?
He said 'Yes."
I said "Your dad is with him and Jesus is just about the best person you could ever be with so your dad isn't alone."
And your dad can see you from heaven so anything you want to say you can say to him.
He said "I can'
I said yes.
So...he goes back inside.
I go back inside and realize I went outside to check the mail and have somehow managed to lose my keys...
so I think I must have dropped them when I hugged him and they were on the other side o f the fence.
so I am trying to sneak around the fence to get them when the gramma comes out.
I told her what little man said
and she said
That's the first time he's talked about it all day.
I am so glad he felt like he could talk.
I am still crying.
I just want to say thank you again to all those who are currently serving overseas, or who have loved ones overseas...our family's danger has passed.
I know how blessed we are, I feel it today.

I am signing off now.
Hugs,
Chris