Chaos Magnet

Goodbyes

My son just called from the old neighborhood. He's leaving for the Army today. We've known this was coming for some time now. We fought, when he first signed up, but not because I didn't want him to go -- though I didn't -- but because I wanted him to wait until he graduated from high school to make his decision. But we've come to terms now.

He took us out to dinner last week. (Or rather, he invited us to dinner and I paid for it.) He waited until we were in a restaurant to tell us that his unit was shipping out to the Middle East next spring. I'm sure he expected some kind of scene. There was, of course, none. My wife and I have resigned ourselves. Before he left -- just before he left, from the sound coming through the phone of the car telling him the keys were in the ignition and the door was open -- I told him that no matter what, I was proud of him. I meant it.

I sit and I think about all of those recruiters who target children. And they are children, whether they've reached the age of majority or not. I remember so clearly what I was like at 19, raising a family, thinking I knew everything, really knowing nothing. I think that recruiters have to do that. Because very few people would take on the very necessary job of becoming a soldier if they knew what it really meant.

Our baby is gone. Please G-d, let him come back in one piece. Physically and mentally. But even if he does -- no, when he does -- he still won't be our baby any more.

Recruiters aren't the only ones who get them young. It's no accident that you have children before you know any better. Because if you knew what that really meant, you wouldn't do that either.

Be safe, Sean. We love you.

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