Part 1: What We Learned:
第十六章 与父亲的生离死别
收到Savannah的分手信后，John投身到各种危险的战场中，想用这种命悬一线的日子来麻痹自己的痛感神经，让自己没有精力再去想Savannah……
同时，John的父亲第二次心脏病发作了，而且这次病得很重。当作者着重笔墨去仔细刻画他回到家看到父亲的模样和状态；当John的父亲将两碗汤喝得干干净净，说明他已经饿了很久；当邻居终于归来，让我们了解到各人有各人的苦，我们无法责备任何人；当从不袒露情绪的父亲因得知John将送他去养老院蜷缩在睡椅上哭泣；当John最终在归队前将父亲送到养老院，细细地为父亲收捡行囊和布置新的房间；当我们都知道这将是他们生前的最后一面……这一切描写都让人无比心疼和动容。
泰戈尔说“生活以痛吻我，我却回报以歌”。
面对时代和命运，每一个人都是渺小的，但无论怎样，这一世总有人会记得我们曾经努力地活过，我们是怎样的人……
Part 2: Q&A
1. What did John want to do when finishing Savannah’s letter? What did he actually do in the following days?
John longed to talk to Savannah. He wanted to fly home immediately, or at least call her. But he didn’t do that. He volunteered for any mission regarded as dangerous, and barely spoke to anyone in his unit.
2. What happened in Iraq?
Baghdad fell.
3. Where did John go after he left Iraq? Were there any changes in his squad?
John was sent back to Germany. Some of his guys were honorably discharged in late 2003 when their time was up, so his squad was full of newbies.
4. When did John ask for a transfer back home again? And why?
In June 2005, John ask for a transfer back home again, because his dad had a second heart attack, and his dad’s condition continued to worsen.
5. How was the condition of John’s Dad? Did he agree to go to the extend care facility?
John’s father was unable to rise from the couch; he seemed to have aged thirty years. His skin was almost gray, and he’d lost much weight. John’s father lost the abilities for his body to function at all.
John’s father didn’t agree to go to the extend care facility, but he had to accept it, because John would go back to his unit.
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