Soldier Extensions- Original Post 14 April 2007

I was IM'ing with my son when the news came over the internet. I saw it and was devastated. I told him, "I have bad news". I copy and pasted the article into IM. He said we were told this was a possibility. Don't worry mom. He said until I was told by him, it wasn't official.
I just had this feeling when they deployed last June that there would be an extension. I have always thought that. When he was home on leave in October, it was bittersweet....I just "knew" it would be the next October before I laid my eyes on my darling son again.
That being said, I was just almost to the point of getting excited that he was coming home in June. I thought they wouldn't tell us to not send mail after the 15th if it weren't true. I was cooking dinner this week and started talking to myself. Could this really be real....could he actually be coming home soon?
One of my best friends son left in October. She called me that evening..."have you heard". Yes I told her. I said to her...dont worry yet, Chris may not be affected by this Hopefully by October they won't still need to do this. Chris is due home on leave next month. She is worried he won't get to come home. I told her to not worry. I didn't think it would affect leave. That they had so many soldiers to rotate through that they wouldn't mess with the schedule.
My mom called and asked "have you heard". I said yes Mom, but remember I told you a long time ago that he would be extended. She started to cry. How can I comfort her? I can't. It takes all I have just to make it through the day....Sometimes I think I must be in a deep depression...then I think I am already on anti depressants for my illness. How could I be depressed? I saw my neurologist this week. I saw in his notes that he said about my last visit. Terry seems to be in a depressive state. I thought well, yes, I am having a flare up...and I hurt like hell. Who wouldn't be depressed. I don't think he was talking about my mood...more about my illness.
And yes, I too am sick and tired of hearing about Don Imus, American Idol and Anna Nicole Smith. There are more important developments that need discussion. And the news needs to quit "bashing" our soldiers. The more they (CNN) talk about the war is unjust and we are failing, and all the other nonsense....the more it hurts my soldier, me and the rest of the country who have loved ones in the military. Not to mention our soldiers.
I had my son read an article on Yahoo news-Life with the Mahdi Army. It was written by a washington post reporter that had been embedded with his unit...when he got to the part about their intrepreter....he said great "she just got him killed". I said what do you mean...he said she reported that the intrepreter covers his face and she named him by name=only changing his first name. He said these savages are not stupid....they will now know who he is...and she just got him and his family killed.
Well, this has been long enough...I feel your pain. I IM with a wife, a girlfriend, and two moms from our unit. This has hit each of them differently. I do my best to calm their fears and comfort them as much as one can over the internet...all the while thinking "oh crap" how will we get through this...
One bit of good news...on May 4th, I am going to be the guest speaker when "Talking with Heroes" comes to our city. I am going to be the voice for military parents. The neat part is...they are going to do a live video link-with my son and I....This will be the first time I have laid my eyes on him since he was home on leave last October. I am so excited! Talking with Heroes travels from city to city conducting a radio show. They have been to Iraq twice to interview soldiers and Marines. The main purpose here is to get the word out about what our soldiers are doing...the good stuff that is coming out of their being there....you can find them at www.talkingwithheroes.com
Well, I need to run. My Marine "brother" and his sister are expected here this a.m. and I still have lots to do to get ready for them.
Head down, eyes open, I love you.