Paladin06

>> > WIFE'S REQUEST
>> >
>> >
>> > I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses
>> >that you find all over the country.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells
>>littering
>> >the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long
>> >neck beers and sizzling platters.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of
>> >my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but
>> > they
>>were
>> >definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that
>> >"squared away" look that comes with pride.
>> >
>> >
>> > Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where
>> >my husband usually sat.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth,
>> >talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids,
>> > come
>>back
>> >to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking
>> >about him until he returned home .
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered
>> >where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his
>> >cold any better?
>> >Were my letters getting through to him?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the
>> >next booth broke into my thoughts.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd
>> >think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord.
>> >What an
>>idiot!
>> >I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the
>>election."
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an
>> >endless tirade running down our president.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I thought about t he last night I spent with my husband, as he
>>prepared
>> >to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and
>> >anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his
>> >gas mask
>>still
>> >gives me chills.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.
>> >
>> > "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape
>> >and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I
>> >wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a
>> >thought? It's pure greed, you know."
>> >
>> >
>> > My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still
>> > see
>>how
>> >handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it
>> >on
>>my
>> >finger.
>> >
>> >
>> > I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably hi