Saturday, January 13, 2007

19,999 + 1

One Mother's Translation of George Bush's Jan. 11 Announcement


Yah, that's what keeps going through my head in the last few days: 19,999...and Brian. 21,499...and Brian.

Brian, as I write, has his bags packed for desert training, at Fort Irwin, in California. He heads to the airport around 6 p.m. tonight, and will board a plane at 1 a.m. He will return in one month.

He will leave for Iraq on March 15.

Yes, we have a date, he called me last night to let me know, lacing his conversation with "don't cry yet." I didn't.

We talked about how he feels, how he is. I unconsciously, nervously, scribbled random words as we spoke. After he hung up, I sat facing a yellow post-it note with "terrified" "do what I got to do" "scared for my friends" and "do my job and come back" scratched across it.

Don't tell him: I maybe, just a little, cried a little.

Then I picked up my pen and started praying and drawing.

12 comments:

  1. Wonderful work ..

    ./thanks
    ilaiy

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  2. Your words, art, and feelings are a wonderful addition to my day of perusing blogs.

    Thanks for what you share.

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  3. Hang in there mama. Brian will be fine. I'm deeply, deeply sorry you have to go through this.

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  4. Thanks for reminding that these things aren't just on the television. I'm thinking of you both x

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  5. This is very powerful. Whatever I might say is inadequate for what you're going through. You and Brian are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  6. Hey there. You express yourself so beautifully. xxoo. I'll pray too. He'll be okay - you will too.

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  7. I didn't ask for you or Brian's permission before I started crying. I'm crying with you and I'll be laughing with you when he comes home.

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  8. Anonymous1:00 PM

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  9. what in the world is this previous comment?!? it kinda sucked the teariness right outta me...

    your writing (and visual add-ins) are very powerful. keeping you (and brian) in my thoughts.

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  10. As you can imagine, my thoughts are with you and Brian. I can't begin to comprehend the pain and uncertainty you face, and just hope you both come through it safely.

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  11. Ilaiy: tyvm

    CB: Anytime. Thanks for listening.

    Larry: I'm hanging tough.

    Sveny: I can't quite get that through my head either, that this isn't a TV thing.

    Amishlaw: Thank you; we'll take all ya got.

    Wendy: Thanks, hon.

    Laurie: Sniff. Thanks.

    Si: It appears that the devil himself commented on my blog, can you believe it? I fixed him, and hope he doesn't come back...yeeks!

    Mal: "Uncertainty" is the perfect word. It's maddening.

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  12. Love the drawring! And I couldn't help but think of you and Brian while I listened to his (intolerable) speech the other night.

    Brian WILL be OK.

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