ELECTIONS

Dear Gabe,

Tomorrow is election day in Iraq.  Actually I suppose its already tomorrow in Iraq now.  There are many people, many bad people, who do not want these elections to happen.  Please be extra careful as you drive around.

I have not been keeping up with the news in your part of the world for the most part, but yesterday I pulled up a link for The Final Roll Call.  My mistake.  It said that 4 more soldiers had lost their lives.  And naturally I worried because it had just happened and there were no specifics pending the notification of next of kin (how I've come to hate that phrase).  I fretted until I saw that you had read my latest email this morning.  I try not to worry, really I do, but its so hard.  With each email I receive I am grateful that you have survived another day, and yet somewhere in another part of the country a mother mourns the loss of her son or daughter and my heart breaks for them.

Folks here in town ask about you all the time.  I hope you don't get tired of hearing this, I know I don't... but they all send their love and prayers.  Miss Mary Ann says a prayer with me every time we meet.  Miss Carmen shares the lessons she learned from her brother's experiences in Desert Storm, Miss Roxy says prayers each night for you.  Your friends stop by at the store to get news of you.  You once told me that you didn't feel comfortable with the celebrity status that you felt but Gabe, people don't see you as a celebrity.  They see you as a patriot and a hero, and they are so proud of you and the choices you have made with your life.  And as your mother I am so very proud of you as well, you and your buddies, and all of the service men and women, and what they are doing for the future of the world.

It doesn't feel like Christmas is just 2 weeks away.  I've had a hard time getting into the spirit, which is weird since this is my favorite time of the year.  We've had the tree in the house for 5 days and it still stands undecorated.  But don't worry.  I'm going to get the Christmas spirit going in this house even if I have to beat everyone with it.  Tomorrow we will decorate the tree and sing caroles and drink eggnog like we do every year.  I wish that you could be here with us in body and soul, but since you can't, you will be here in our thoughts.

Miss you so much my son.  Love you always,

Mom