| 5/9/2008 8:30:09 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
justme68
Cleveland, OH
age: 42
| I was 19 years old when I decided to join the U.S. Army , back in 1985 during the late stages of the Cold War. I figured that I would have the opportunity to earn and save money for college and travel. I thought that I had life all figured out. I thought that I knew everything about life and love , and where my life was headed. I was stationed in West Germany , when in 1987 I met a wonderful woman. We were married in 1988 , and my son was born in 1989. That was a great time in my life. I had a good thing going for me, I had a wonderful loving wife , and a beautiful son. And I still thought that I had life and the world figured out. I decided with my family to re-enlist for two more years and we opted to stay in West Germany. My end time of service would be Feb.1991. Things were going great, and towards the end of 1990 I was starting to prepare to leave active military duty with a nice savings for my family , and a $15,000 GI Bill for college.
At this time things started to get crazy in the middle east. Before I knew it , Iraq had invaded Kuwait. I was part of the 8Th Infantry Division 12Th Engineers , and we were ordered to deploy to Saudi Arabia to help spearhead "Operation Desert Storm". We became known as TF33 Engineers ,"Task Force Thunder Echo". I could'nt believe it! One minute I was at my home with my family , and 48 hours later I was staring down the entire Iraq Army. So many things went through my mind. Life , death , family , and friends. I could'nt remember the last things that I had said to my parents and close friends the last time that I had talked to them. It was then that I realized that I was going about my life wrong. I was so consumed with the future , that I forgot to enjoy life. I decided then that if I made it through what was about to happen , that I would enjoy and appreciate every day of my life. I would appreciate all the little things that I took for granted , and I would always make sure that I told my parents and my wife that I loved them at the end of our conversations. I ended up being deployed in the Middle East for 7 months. When I returned home , I knew that I was a different person. It was'nt easy at first , but I eventually left the horror and destruction that I took part in behind me. I became a better person because I had went head to head with the devil and death , and I survived.
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| 5/9/2008 8:44:30 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
mooseslayer
Pittston, PA
age: 31
|  The day my daughter was born.It was overwhelming the love that was instantly in my soul for this little mirical.My life was changed for ever.
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| 5/9/2008 8:53:46 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
barbara1
Reston, VA
age: 51
| so many have, including becoming a mother, but most recently surviving and beating a rare life threateneing desease.I am fine, now, but for awhile my life was taken away from me and I did not know if I was going to make it. God gave me another chance and I am completely healthy now.
That has given me a better appreciation of life.I feel so lucky and happy just to be alive! I will never take life or my health for granted again!
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| 5/9/2008 8:56:23 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
stormygrl
Longmont, CO
age: 41 online now!
| Having my daughter for sure........and it's still an experience everyday..
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| 5/9/2008 8:57:51 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
allinthedo
Tracy, CA
age: 29
| getting robbed and hit in the face with a baseball bat
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| 5/9/2008 9:00:20 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
stormygrl
Longmont, CO
age: 41 online now!
| I'm sorry Allin I won't do that to you again
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| 5/9/2008 9:00:21 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
dunitall
Seattle, WA
age: 44
| When i found out my penis had a brain...hahaha, But seriously...The birth of my first child, nothing more beautiful in the world, and after watching i knew nothing would ever be able to kill my ex....hahaha
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| 5/9/2008 9:27:40 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
chinaonlyabc
Lancaster, CA
age: 53
| When I was 10 years old, I fell ill and; I went to the hospital, with a 106 degree temperature. I was put in an oxygen tent with ice shoveled above my head to keep my tent cool as ice driped on my face. I was in a isolation private room, everything was dark around me, with a glass window which showed a nurse with a microphone, communication device and monitors behind her. I was feverous so I didn't know how long I was in the tent but I overheard that if I lived this night.. I had a good chance of living. I heard that some kind of strong antibiotic was used to kill the infection and I lived.. but I felt like I was in a bubble. What was strange was that my family wasn't around me. I didn't hear my family's voice or words of encouragement. I was confused since I saw on televison such crisis events that family is always nearby. In fact, during my recovery, my family was strangely absent from my hospital stay which was 2 weeks. The nurses and doctors and janitors were nice but no one else was there. Funny, heh? Well, I learned deep inside my soul.. Girl, you are on your own. There is no family to help you. And for me. that was the hard truth.
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| 5/9/2008 10:14:21 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
doll121
Middleport, OH
age: 50 online now!
| living with a drunk. he really learnt me about men. a real good lesson i might add.
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| 5/9/2008 10:28:49 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
foxy_woman_49
Omaha, NE
age: 49
| Kids
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| 5/9/2008 10:45:35 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
sumbeach777
Red Springs, NC
age: 44
| The day I left home, and then married, became a Mom, and then every time A child was born.
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| 5/9/2008 10:49:01 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
asl_1965
Frederick, MD
age: 42
| failed suicide attempt
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| 5/9/2008 10:53:44 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
baltimorebob
Gwynn Oak, MD
age: 58
| Quote: I was staring down the entire Iraq Army.
Yea that's Scary.
Like the day I wooped everyone's ass
in that 1st grade class.
There was just me taking on those 25 others.
Could you imagine the odds against me ?
Bob
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| 5/9/2008 11:04:34 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
justme68
Cleveland, OH
age: 42
| Well Bob...I was'nt alone. I had plenty of backup. But it sure did feel like I was alone.
Some beatuiful and interesting stories so far. Thanks all. Sorry to hear some of the bad things , but hope everyone is well. Peace.
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| 5/9/2008 11:06:36 AM | What Experience Changed Your Life? | |
sprosse
Heidelberg
Germany
age: 37
| the day my exhusband hit me so bad that it messed up my foot and it got me to grow up and change.
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