On Saturday night Ian, our friend Scott and I went up to The Flying Saucer for a surprise going-away party for four friends in the 278th armored cavalry regiment (which, according to Wikipedia, has been active since before 1780 and was involved in the Revolutionary War) who are being deployed to Iraq after the first of the year. Again.
John, Wes, G.L. and Matt. Those are their names. Their wives are our friends Christy, Amanda and Autumn. I’m putting them here as a reminder to myself, mostly, that no matter what your politics are, real people are still being sent over to really fucked up places. And whether or not I think we helped fuck up those places, or how I feel about a U.S. presence still remaining over there, the fact remains that people’s husbands, wives, sons, daughters, parents and friends are still going there. Real people, not just names in a newspaper.
The going-away party was like most parties I’ve attended with this group of friends: Inebriated, incredibly fun and a bit out-of-control. Here’s to their quick and safe return so we can have more of the same.
