Brady left Seattle today. He's in Philadelphia now, and I miss him already. It's ironic (damn Alanis, now I never know if I'm using that word accurately); I feel like I've gotten to know him better and become much closer friends in the last few months, when I have known he was leaving. And unless Providence smiles upon him (and us), he'll be headed to Iraq soon. This sucks.
Hopefully some good turn of events will come from the outreach that he (and we) did to our elected officials. It would be wonderful to have him back very soon. Even just having him land in a situation where he ends up not having to leave for Iraq but can't come home to Seattle for a while.
It's strange to see someone I know and love heading off to war. I'm spoiled, perhaps, but I didn't ever stop to consider that my friends might be called up. And Nathan (whose last name I don't even know, which is embarrassing to me) leaves for his tour in Afghanistan in the next few days. They're both going to deserts, just not the right one. They both should be heading to Burning Man, not a war zone.
Brady, it has been wonderful to spend so much time with you lately. I have always respected your energy and enthusiasm for life, your screwball fashion sense, gosh -- really just too many things to list. But lately, I've seen you perservering through (what I perceive to be) a tremendous level of stress and turmoil, and you've been amazing. I miss you already. I hope you come home very very soon, safe and sound. I've said it to you before, but just let me / us know if there's anything we can do for you.
If you must go to war, go in peace.