Longhorn in Paradise

The day has finally arrived. My brother Brian is on a military plane headed for Kuwait as I type. He will be spending a few days (perhaps weeks) there prior to being sent into Iraq. Over the past couple weeks, his assignment has been changed and it could change again. For fear of pulling a Geraldo, I won't post where he will be, but at this point it appears he will be somewhere within the Sunni Triangle. I am today, as opposed to the last time I posted on this, much more at peace with this. I mean, I hate to see him doing it and I think it is the ultimate in foolish life decisions, but as far as feeling gloom and doom about him not coming back...I don't see it coming down like that. The more I think about it, the more I think that there are many things working in our favor...First, the odds. As much as it pains me that a single person had to die in this god forsaken adventure, the percentage of soldiers killed or maimed there is very small. Second, our family has already suffered great loss with the death of my cousin Tommy over there on Christmas Day 2003. Third, Brian is not a gung-ho hero commander type. I don't envision him putting himself in unecessary danger. I see him as going over there, doing his job and that's it. So, in conclusion, I feel very strongly that in a couple years, I will be sitting down with Brian and hearing stories about how hot it was and how boring his job was. :-)

All that said, I ask that everyone keep him in their thoughts. As my mom says, send him white light. Think of his two beautiful daughters and his new bride and step-son and all the rest of us who want him back here in one piece.

Much love to all!

jak