A Count Down

I have a little count down going on in my head.  In 53 days yet another friend will be sent over seas for the Army.  The idea maybe old, but the location is new.  This time my friend goes to Afghanistan. 

In some ways I try not to make too big a deal of the count down.  Lots of guys serve over seas.  Last Spring our new Maintenance Supervisor for the water plant was in Iraq for 3 - 4 months for the Air Force reserve.  Last week a congregation member at St.Anastasia's returned home from Iraq (he's a doctor, I think he was back for R&R).  The Art teacher's son at St.Anastasia's school is in Iraq.  I know it's not just people I know.  It's not just my friends who have to go.

And there is the very real truth that the sooner they go, the sooner they come back.  

I think I need to clarify something.  Most of these friends I just found again either through Facebook, e-mail, or randomly bumping into at Homecoming.  And it has only been within the last 18 months that we have been e-mailing/messaging/forwarding whatever to each other.  You know, catching up.  Pictures of each others' spouses and children.  Finding out we really haven't changed much in the intervening years (I remember Skip jumping off his front portch steps for me to catch him when he was little, now he jumps out of airplanes for the Army, hasn't changed much there at all).  Basically getting a little taste of what a long term firendship would be like again.

"My Guys" are best desribed as follows:

Skip was another little brother for me.  Only in some ways he was better then my own brother, he was so much younger then me he actually listened occaisionally when I babysat him (unlike my own brother, who while younger then me, is taller then me, and NEVER listened to me - love ya Rob, mean it!).  Skip's in Iraq now.  I understand he's safe and his family hears from him regularly.

Darrell and I took quite a few of the same courses in college.  We were both Science majors at Catawba, so we saw each other a lot in the Halls of Shufford.  Darrell is in Iraq, complaining about "management" and missing his new baby girl like mad.  But she knows who he is, as they Skype on the weekends.  She calls him "da da" as all little girls do.

And Patrick, well he's the big brother I always wanted.  And he always knew how to cheer me up in college, generally just by being himself.  I will always associate Ren and Stimpy and MTV Alternative Nation with Patrick and Woodson lobby and desksitting.  He would even sing along to the log song.  Patrick leaves is 53 days for Afghanistan.

(having un petite pity party pour moi over here, don't mind me)

I just wish Peace would get to Iraq and Afghanistan in 52 days.  Growing up Army, I know this is just a bump in the road of life.  It will pass.  But also growing up Army I know how rare it is to find friends again.  I just want "my guys" to know that I'm thinking of them, missing them, praying for them. 

Be safe and come home soon.