Complete post by Jill Kuraitis here

Yesterday, my beloved firstborn left for the Middle East. He will not see combat and will be relatively safe, but still – the Middle East – for a year. First there is the whole year thing – it seems unimaginable right now – and then there is the location thing, and then there is the whole year thing. A year without rubbing his head and catching that clean scent that hasn’t changed since the day he was born. Twelve months without his company for dogwalks by the river. Four seasons without his familiar calls to chat about the latest political outrage, his lectures about my car-maintenance habits, and the way he cracks up. He doesn’t crack up often, but when he does – mercy but it’s a beautiful thing. Ten days ago I was more upset than I am now, even though Andrew is gone. Bush was still proclaiming his support for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, it was uncertain whether the Democrats could take the House, and the Senate was but a crazy dream. Though tempered by Idaho’s disturbing election, my relief at the national results of November 7 has given me hope for relief for our military. As of yesterday, official reports say 2,847 of them have been killed; 21,077 have been wounded. Our sons and daughters -- Jill Kuraitis/New West.

Question: Do you have a close friend of family member currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan?

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