It begins

Description of how a loved one finds out he will be going to Iraq

I can’t quite remember when it began; it must have been …..when he picked up the phone on that January day a few years ago. That was the beginning of a series of phone calls, two trips to Phillipsburg, and one to Arlington. He didn’t know right away what was going on, yet he did. He knew it was the beginning of a very long journey to Iraq starting with a phone call telling him to fly to Arlington in a few days for paperwork. Paperwork is never just paperwork. It is a mountain of paperwork along with numerous briefings and medical exams after all one must be healthy to be shot at in the desert. He spent two days doing “paperwork.” More was to come. Once I thought, well maybe he’ll stay home….another phone call. And another, and another. He was to have his stuff packed with no date in sight with promises of soon. When exactly is soon? Next week? Next month? Two days from Tuesday? Soon is two weeks. Another phone call telling him to be at the Reserve unit in Phillipsburg for a briefing and out-processing so as he can in-process in Ft. Bragg……that’s when we knew. The orders were for 24 months.

Author's Note

let know what works and what doesn't.