The Trade
By Karen S. Elliott
Inspired by Kristi P-L, USAF, Iraq 2009-2010
***
She packed up her comfy jeans and laying-around T-shirts
She shrugs into a heavy canvas uniform, now her second skin
Boxed up her peep-toe high heels and sandals and stacked them away
Now all she’s got are dusty high-top boots with heavy tread
No delicate black eyeliner around lovely hazel eyes
Just smudges of purple, her badges of fatigue
No long showers here, nope
Just unshaved legs so she looks like the rest of the troops
Forget salon haircuts with mousse or gel
In marches a permanent helmet-head hairdo
She strains to remember how lovely that last manicure felt
Handling weapons with broken, scraggy fingernails, unpolished and blunt
Velvety cosmetic powder abandoned at home
She wears the Iraqi desert upon her face
Late night chat-fest nights with friends of her choosing, no more
Now, it’s early morning wake-up and drill
No delicate sparkling pendants around her neck
Just a dull metal chain with tags that identify her blood type
While mother’s comforting shoulder and soothing touch wait at home
She learns combat strategies and how to react to roadside bombs
Instead of cradling a tiny baby
She shrugs into a burdened flak jacket that hides her girlish figure
She rolls out with a loaded M4 and a 9mm Beretta.
Karen R. Sanderson 
Well said, Karen. Please wish a “Happy Veteran’s Day” to Kenton and Chris from me!
That’s a trade not many of us would have the guts to make. Thank you, Kristi, and thank you, Karen, for sharing this with us.
The reality of a deployed soldier — not one many of us would choose to embrace. Important post to share. Thank you!
Thanks, Karen, for always remembering our wonderful troops!
They give – and sacrifice – much more than most of us will ever know.
I “met” Kristi via a FB connection with my son while he was in Iraq in 2009-2010. Kristi left behind a baby, not even crawling, to go to Iraq. I felt a connection to her, wondering how she felt, wondering what she missed. Though I ached for my son, his wife, and his boys, I was especially sad for Kristi. She missed so much in that first year of her son’s life.
Yes, this touched me. Melancholic yet defiant, in a way. I try to put myself in her place, and I can’t. I could give up the mascara, but not the mothering…
Karen this is deeply moving. I can only imagine the strength some people have to offer themselves to save the rest of us.
I think you should have a week of poetry etc. to pay tribute to all those who fight for freedom around the world.
Thank you, Pamela and Shirani. And Shirani – great idea about a week of poetry as tribute…gonna put that on my calendar somewhere.