2 days ago I got an email about a different kind of going away party, a friend of mine, known him for 5 years or so, has been active reserves for a long time but recently switched to full active duty, but just states side.  He's Navy, so that meant driving back and forth between Columbus and Dayton.  About a month ago during a every-other-month get together, he said he's been "put on notice" that his time to jump over into the sand pit could be coming so this wasn't a surprise.

In the email he said we'd have a thing on sunday because he felt he could be gone before Thanksgiving (which, btw, his wife is t3h w00t when it comes to making a turkey) so ok fine, I forward it on to the group.  This morning ...I get this.

Friends -

I regret to inform you that the party has been canceled. The navy would like [him] to be on a transport to Iraq on Sunday, and he will actually be leaving town for San Diego sometime Tuesday, October 28th. 

For those keeping track, that's -today-.  I called him, see how he was feeling about it, how long, etc.  He's excited, 6 months, doing what he wants to do.  I outrightly warned him not to do anything stupid because the last thing I want to hear is he's coming home in a box.  To put this in perspective, he wanted to be a pilot and asked "would you fly with me" if he would get the OK -- I'd do it in a heart beat (mostly to out-fly him!) and even filled out some paperwork if he got it.  Well, he was turned down for that but did get commissioned to be an officer anyway.  Good thing is its a great position.  Bad thing is he will be required to move a LOT -- transports are easy to shoot at.  Granted, most of his movements should be by air ...but that ground comes up fast sometimes.  Damn gravity.

I'm not really worried about him or his ability to handle combat situations (see: being shot at) which he shouldn't see much, if at all, but I do wish, at the least, I would be going with him.  He's got a wife that's not in the greatest health and needs him from time to time ...I don't have that problem.  During the summer, we had talked about the realistic nature that he'd be going off and what I could do around the house, things his wife can't handle.  He insisted nothing (bullshit) but gave in by saying "make sure the mower has oil in it, it needs rebuilt so its eating it after every few runs".   Just the kind of guy he is.  So it looks like I'll be doing some shoveling (snow) and maybe some shrub cutting, lawn mowing and whatever else comes up while he's out playing in the big sand box of the east.  It's the least I can do.