Nina Talbot

Painter - Writer
painting, Chris, by Nina Talbot
Chris, oil on canvas, 48 x 42 inches

Veterans

Chris

Gulf War, U. S. Army

[Quote below by Chris from a video clip on the Samaritan Village website.]

“I’ve always had this feeling that it was my fault that Tony died.
Because every time he was hit he was where I was supposed to be.
My wife used to tell me everything that happened the night I got wounded.
How do you know- you weren’t there?
My wife said, every night I re-create it–I’m on my knees on the bed, low crawling, screaming on the floor.
I can still feel the burning sensation all over my hand.
Right now there is no choice of using drugs.
I can’t look my children in the face and say Daddy spent the rent money.
I can’t buy you any clothes because Daddy had to get high. Being here rebuilt my relationships and I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.”