The soldier and I have an ongoing dialogue about who slides the blankets, the sheets and ultimately the mattress itself off the bed. He says I roll around all night. I say I’ve never had a this kind of problem until I started sleeping with a rhinoceros. And then we go back and forth, you do it, no you do it, P, you’re the one who does it…

Last night we were getting ready to watch a movie in the bedroom when there was a loud sound. It was a definite “loud sound” and he quietly got up and got the gun. This was the first time he’s ever done this. You may remember me imploring him to get out of bed and kill an intruder some months ago.

Saying nothing he went skulking down the hall, quiet beyond your wildest imagination. Peeking out from the bedroom I watched him and I am telling you the Rhino was on his toes like a ballerina and the only thought I had was this: “He’s going to win.” If you are a woman, can you imagine a feeling like that? “This game is over.”

As it turned out I had exploded a heating pad in the microwave but this sure made an impression and I told him so.

“That was a damn good feeling. I don’t know that I have ever felt like that in my life. Someone’s in the house? That’s going to be their problem because I know you’re going to win… you will prevail no matter who it is.”

“Well I am not going to lose,” he said.

“Right. Well I knew there had to be some pay off for sleeping with a rhinoceros.”

Do you feel safe in this world?