Been away for a while.
One of my friends, who is a medic in the Army Reserves, was called up today. She's been an important part of my life for a year or two now; helped me through some difficult times. She has a loving husband and a little boy, just over three. Once she goes, I won't see her for a year... if...
Did you know that when the Army calls you up they don't tell you where you're going? You could be going to stay stateside, head out to Germany (a major medical stopover point for American wounded), Iraq, anywhere. I know they have to fill in needs as they emerge, but that's still fucked. If she stays stateside, her family can go with her. If not, they can't. Either is a ton to prepare for, and to know you're going but not knowing what that means...
I don't seem to be able to finish a lot of these thoughts.
Her son still loves his mother more than anything and hasn't really ever been separated from her for more than a weekend (during her army trainings). He's a handful, but they have a wonderful relationship. Hanging out with them, they just make each other laugh and laugh. I wonder what a year apart will do to him, and how a year in action, scraping burned tissue off soldiers, will change her ability to laugh with her son.
So I'm sad.
One of my friends, who is a medic in the Army Reserves, was called up today. She's been an important part of my life for a year or two now; helped me through some difficult times. She has a loving husband and a little boy, just over three. Once she goes, I won't see her for a year... if...
Did you know that when the Army calls you up they don't tell you where you're going? You could be going to stay stateside, head out to Germany (a major medical stopover point for American wounded), Iraq, anywhere. I know they have to fill in needs as they emerge, but that's still fucked. If she stays stateside, her family can go with her. If not, they can't. Either is a ton to prepare for, and to know you're going but not knowing what that means...
I don't seem to be able to finish a lot of these thoughts.
Her son still loves his mother more than anything and hasn't really ever been separated from her for more than a weekend (during her army trainings). He's a handful, but they have a wonderful relationship. Hanging out with them, they just make each other laugh and laugh. I wonder what a year apart will do to him, and how a year in action, scraping burned tissue off soldiers, will change her ability to laugh with her son.
So I'm sad.