Skin In The Game

Why would Jesse be calling me at 7:00? It’s only 4:00 in California he must still at the base. You know the old adage when you get a call from a family member at a weird time it has to be bad news. He started the conversation with “I have some things going on I wanted to tell you about”. This of course made my heart race right away. First he said “we bought a house” I immediately started to feel better. Whew! Then he dropped the bomb. He had just got the news he will be shipping out for Iraq in November. This time my heart dropped into my shoes. He has been a Marine for 8 years a Staff Sergeant drill instructor. I hoped and prayed he would not be called to go that hell hole. But his country called and his talents are needed so he will be going. Funny how it is working out he will be sent here to Tampa for a few weeks then leave from here. At least he can stay with us until he leaves. I told him to break it to Erica easy; she will have some tough decisions to make. She will have to balance work taking care of the baby and the house until he gets back and who’s to say if he will be stationed back in San Diego. Makes me wish I were already retired I would go out there and help her until he gets back but that’s not possible right now. I planned some vacation time for Thanksgiving week and hope to spend some quality time with him before he goes. I would like to fly Erica and the baby here when it’s time for him to ship out. She will need to know she has a strong commitment from me to do or get anything she needs while he is gone. I wish they were closer, I wish he didn’t have to go, I wish there was no war to take my son from me