Worried and Family Rejoice

Although both Granny and I oppose Bush's war(s) and the slaughter and maiming of innocents, including America's sons and daughters sent to fight the wars , I am the rabidly fanatical, frothing at the mouth, hell-raising anti-war extremist of the two. To avoid having war news fill up this blog devoted to national issues, I created two war blogs. So we do not post much here about the wars.

However, we do post occasionally on some war issues that affect us and our readers on a personal level, such as Granny's post below about the son of Marty On The Homefront who is involved in dangerous situations. I know that all our friends and readers offer positive thoughts and/or prayers for his safety and return home soon (as we do for all our troops also).

Our troops are not allowed to reveal very much about situations in the war zones so when one speaks out about certain events, we know it is serious. (Some soldiers who blog have been ordered to discontinue their blogs because of the content).

I am overjoyed to report that as of a few hours ago the plane landed in the US bearing my grandson home from his second tour in Iraq. After the military ceremonies the men were allowed 20 minutes to greet their families, then sent off to do whatever troops have to do for the military upon returning home. Then he will be free to spend time with his wife and children, and will spend 10 days de-briefing, etc. After that he can get leave to come to Texas and visit the family at large (and the extended family is large indeed. There will be great celebrations. He was home on leave in April 2006; the link doesn't work but the post for that may be seen in April 1, 2006 archive "!!He is Home!! At Least for 2 weeks." He will get to see his great grandmother again also. Contrary to all her doctors' expectations, she is fiesty as a kid goat and driving her nurses to distraction. Not bad for a 97 year old who once was on Hospice care).

Thank technology for these fancy hi-tech cell phones , speaker phones, and conference calls. By linking up, many family members were able to hear the wonderful reunion and when the images are downloaded to their computer, we can see also. You computer- savvy people understand far more than I how a cell phone takes photos and even movies of an event and then can be put on computers for all to access. Great!!

So, please rejoice with me and my family for the safe return of my grandson, the only son of one of my daughters and her husband. The only fly in the ointment is the news that his unit may be sent back to Iraq for a third tour of duty in the spring. But for the nonce, we rejoice and are happy and deeply thankful. I hope and pray that soon we can join Marty in rejoicing also.