The house is so dark and cold....a very early hour on this Saturday in April. The windows had been left open last night and the cold air drifted in and wrapped itself around my nose and fingertips. I cradle my warm coffee mug, hoping it will coax these old hands to type. Far off in the forest I hear the angry conversation of squirrels who are busy building nests and getting ready for the arrival of their young. Birds are chattering in the tree outside my window and even in the dark, the world is still at work, a ballet that plays over and over every day without rehearsal and always deserves a standing ovation..

The phone rang, a call from the other side of the world. My oldest boy, his father's namesake, was calling to let me know that he will be deployed to Baghdad for 6 months. He will be leaving in July. This is his second tour of Iraq. The Air Force does 6 months at a time, thank God, and his unit is rotating some in and some out. Last time he went he tried to lie and say he was going to Saudi Arabia. I guess he knew I would lay down in front of the plane to stop him and he didn't want to be embarrassed....NY moms can do that....This always takes me back to the 70's and Viet Nam. Remember the body counts on the news? After a while no one reacted anymore. It is getting that way again....My son (and all other military personal) is a volunteer. I am so scared for him, although he is not patrolling or even in a unit that gets any action, (communications) there is always the danger. I am not pro war but I do realize that we need a military presence and in my heart I can't say to another Mom," not my son, send yours..." So I will hang my banner in the window once again, light the candle, and pray very hard for his safe return. Next time you talk to God, mention my son, he sure could use the support.

 For Michael with Love....

                         Mlea2009