One Year Later
It started a year ago today.
Fran was upstairs at his desk, I was downstairs at mine. It was a Friday in the middle of the work day. The phone rang, and we both picked up at the same time. I heard the military man start talking and I listened.
He was telling Fran that it was very possible that he would become part of unit headed to Iraq. I don’t remember all the words. I just remember the moment like it was yesterday. The feeling. The realization that we had just boarded the Military Roller Coaster.
And so the waiting began. Will he or won’t he. I knew the news could change on a dime…over and over and over again.
Waiting for the yes or no. Waiting for the final list. Waiting for when. Waiting for how long. Waiting.
Now we are on the downhill end of the waiting. Now our sites are set on late July.
While the time overseas is just 12 months, (unless someone changes their minds,) the upheaval lasts much longer.
It starts with the phone call. Now my question is, after they get home, is it really over then?