Thursday, March 20, 2003

With the start of the war my objections, while unchanged, move to the back of my mind and the practicalities of the situation take the fore. In particular, I'm worried about a friend of mine, an Army staff sergeant who's part of the 3rd Infantry Division. I've known the guy for twenty-five years, and he's been in the Army for about half that time.

He was out of the army and in college with me during the first war with Iraq. I vividly remember the night that war began. Paula Poundstone was performing on campus, and we went to see her together. It was a pleasant, welcome diversion. As the two of us sat there and laughed, in the back of my mind I kept thinking, "Thank God he's here beside me and not in the middle of the desert waiting to fight."

I don't have that comfort today. This time, he is in the middle of the desert. This time, he has a wife and son. This time, I haven't seen him in years.

He's doing what he chose to do, and I know he wants to be there. He is a soldier for all the right and just and honorable reasons. I support him, and I'm proud of him.

But what I wouldn't give to have him sitting next to me right now, laughing.

Posted @ 9:12 AM

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