My mother-in-law shaved my head while I slept on the very night the United States Army promoted me into one of the most important commands of my career.

“Yes. Home. Where your family is.”

I almost laughed. Not because it was funny, but because there are moments when cruelty becomes so rehearsed it starts to sound theatrical.

“You shaved my head while I slept,” I said. “You called it discipline. Ryan called it correction. Now you want to talk about family?”

There was a pause. When she spoke again, her continue reading …