Just a Quick Shout

Internet access is spotty at best.  Hoping the pic below uploads.  Miss Ami' terribly, but should be able to get a call out to him in the next couple of days.  Pres touched down in Baghdad today - good on him for taking the detour to visit the troops.  After the trip he's had, he could have easily sat back in the big chair and slept all the way home.  Learned that the guy who replaced me when I left in November has cancer and has a 50/50 shot of making it another 20 months.  Had to cut his tour short to go home for treatment, and fought leaving the war zone until they forced him out.  How crazy is that - living with a running clock over your head but still wanting to stay in the fight.  Long talk today with some friends about dying, and how we'd like to go out - in service to our country?  In a bed surrounded by family?  All alone in an apartment with your kid 14 hours drive away?  Tough subject that is usually frowned upon in this line of work - but seeing one of your own brethren having to grapple with that very question brings it full circle.  Knowing his two daughters may soon have to bury their pops just really drives it home.  Good luck Gravedigger - wish we could sling some lead with you in this battle, but all we can do is pray.