MY DAD CALLED ME TODAY

My Dad called me today. My Dad calls me because I got a phone service and got him to sign up with it so that if we have the same service, our "long distance" calls are free. That's a big deal. He remembers phone bills with lots of long distance calls. He does NOT like the cell phone thing. So, I will pay for this land line until I no longer have my parents.

My Dad called to tell me that he was watching "Cheyenne" and he missed his buddy. When I was lucky enough to spend the summer with my parents, I used to watch "Maverick" in the morning with Dad, or Gunsmoke sometime in the evening. When you watch a show with Dad, you also need to do commentary. It's like "Mystery Science Theater" only it's with westerns. My brothers and sisters are missing out on all the fun. You can take "just a flesh wound" to it's extreme and laugh so hard that the episode is damned near over before you finish your repartee. You don't have to just sit there and watch it. But when I'm not there, Dad doesn't have anybody to laugh with, so he just sits there and watches it. All that comedy wasted.

So, he called me and told me that he was having his drink and watching "Cheyenne." I asked him if Mr. Bodie missed me and he retorted that "Mr. Bodie has more important things to think about..he's fighting for truth and justice!" We laughed and I told Dad that I was a fool to think that Cheyenne would miss me.

I also told Dad that I sure missed him. I sure do. And so it goes...

I was working on spreadsheets this afternoon when breaking news showed on MSNBC, which I usually monitor without sound while I work. So, I saw the moment when it was announced that the last of our combat troops have left Iraq.

A brilliantly planned exit authorized by the Obama administration and coordinated with the Pentagon has been ongoing on while we've slept. As I sit, comfortably in my living room writing these words, Richard Engel, the embedded reporter who was authorized by the pentagon to break the news, is standing in Kuwait watching the last of the American Combat Troops entering Kuwait.

This final exit was planned to take place during Ramadan to assure a safe departure and was described as almost a "taxi caravan." They took the main highways out of the country while dawn was approaching.

While 50,000 consultants remain, they are mostly contractors and not combat troops. Horns are honking, people are in tears. As am I. My heart has been beating out of my chest since about 4:00 this afternoon.

I will save the discussions on the contentious issues of this war. I will have many occasions to discuss this. I'm looking at unabashed joy on the face of Richard Engel. I just watched the gates close as the last vehicle passed through. I'm watching seasoned television analysts with red blotches on their cheeks. Richard smiled and described the tent which is the first stop for our troops as thick with cigar smoke.

I pray for the Iraqi people who have to try to get through their daily lives...a labor and a hardship greater than the poorest of the poor in America. They are as much my brothers and sisters walking on this blue ball circling the universal sky as my next door neighbor. We will not forget them and we will talk about this in days to come.

But for the moment, I want to rejoice with every mother, father, brother, sister, daughter, son, relative, friend, and citizen of this country who, with heart pounding, is awaiting the return of our precious treasure. While Iraq is not in our past, the war is over. I didn't think I'd ever be able to print those words.

Just at the moment when faith runs its course, a reason to believe begins its life. And so it goes...

To comment on this or any other postings, click on the blog posting title to the right. It will then give you a comments area where you can post your thoughts. Have fun. Don't be dicks or I will annihilate you.