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The Student News Website of Francis Howell North High School.
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FHNtoday.com

The Student News Website of Francis Howell North High School.

FHNtoday.com

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A father comes home

Sitting at the family dinner table on Thanksgiving Day. Watching your oldest daughter graduate


from college. Attending your daughter’s volleyball games. Spending time with your son. Moments that Lisa Blanzy was able to have in the past seven months, were moments her husband Paul Blanzy missed.
Paul is the father of junior Michael and senior Kendall
Blanzy, and has a second daughter, Ashlie. He is 49 years old, and has been involved with the military for 26 of those years. He is currently a Colonel in the National Guard.
This was Paul’s second time in Afghanistan; he was there for six months with a month of combat skills training. Though he missed important events while he was away, this allowed his family to gain different views of each other.
“The best part is just knowing that he was helping the country,” Kendall said. “It kind of establishes a sense of pride for our family.”
While Paul was away, the family was only able to talk to him over the phone, through letters, or by web cam. Keeping in touch with Paul helped the family during the seven months.
Paul’s absence also changed some of their daily routines. Kendall and Michael went from a home with both parents, to a home with only a mom for a while. Lisa had to take over more of a punishment role, and Michael had to step up to the plate and take over the roll of the man of the house. Each family member was affected by his absence.
“We’re an independent family, but when you’re a son, it’s important you have your dad around,” Lisa said. “The girls missed him too, but since Michael’s the only man, it was hard. I relied on him to be the man of the house. He took on more responsibilities and matured more than if his dad didn’t go away. I encouraged that for him because I thought it would be good for him.”
Not only did Michael grow as a person, so did Paul. He realized how grateful he was for luxuries, simple things like a bathroom in his house, to the big things like spending time with his family.
“I think that he got stronger mentally as a person,” Michael said.
His time in Afghanistan gave Paul more confidence in the world. His attitude has changed toward others in the military and also towards his own kids.
“You need a certain personality to go over in the military, but I do have a new admiration for the kids over there,” Paul said. “I respect them for what they are doing. I see confidence in America for those young people.”
With Paul back, the family is able to get back to their normal routine and enjoy having Paul’s presence
back in their lives.
“If we have a problem we don’t have to direct it to my mom, which I like,” Michael said.
Michael and Kendall respect what he does for his country. The family really sees the difference Paul has made in the world. In the future, Michael and Kendall might see themselves following in his footsteps.
“Now that he’s back, my brother has been talking about the military,” Kendall said. “I have thought about going into the Air Force, doing more of the technical things than fighting, he has inspired me.”
Though Paul was gone for seven months and missed out on a lot of important events, in the end, the family has been changed for the better. Every member appreciates the time that they have with each other.
“Absolutely we are closer as a family,” Lisa said. “I believe absence makes the heart grow founder. Realizing he’s in danger, you don’t take him for granted as much. When someone is in harm’s way, you realize how much you love that person. I think he has missed a lot, but it’s nothing that we can’t recover from.”

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