It's about that time again.

I do not do well watching my brothers/cousins/uncles get shipped off to the Middle East. This Saturday is my cousin Joe's turn. He volunteered for a tour of duty in Kuwait, so he is leaving for Santa Barbra for training.


My cousin Sara (his older sister) sent me a text earlier about a party she's throwing at her house for him. I'm going, but I'm afraid I'll be a party pooper.


I know exactly why he decided to do this. I bet everyone who knows him knows why. I just wish he had done something else. I don't know what it's like to put your life on hold and wait for your father to pass away and this is like an escape from that. It's really sad to think that this very well may be the last time he sees his Dad alive. The next time I see him after this weekend will be at a funeral for his Dad. It's unsettling.


I'm always worried when this happens. I'm afraid that Joe will leave, and not come back. We got lucky with both of my older brothers being in Iraq on two tours of duty. We got lucky with Joe's older brother Tom going to Afghanistan. It just never gets any easier.


Uggh.