I had a good Friday.

[BlueIris]

Why was it good, you might ask? Scooped up an excellent light overcoat (London Fog, no less) in black (in the summer, so, amazing) on sale for $39.00. The cashier selling me a pound of coffee (youngish looking woman in a coffee shop traditionally filled with Young Republicans) spontaneously said she liked my Kerry/pro-choice buttons (then she gave me an extra discount).

And the best part of all--I was heading into my favorite organic food store, and passing a guy I thought looked really familiar. Then I recognized him: He was a person from my high school class I'd been thinking about a lot throughout the last couple of years. He was one of those kids who was entirely focused on the military career he wanted after college. He always kept in shape, kept up with all relevant news and scholarship information, wouldn't go to parties with anyone who might be drinking/smoking/smoking pot with the polite explanation always "if I get caught and something happens, they won't take me, bye-bye commission, etc." We went to the same university, and when I would occasionally see him on campus, he would mention his intent to go through with his military career plans. We both finished in 2001, and since that time, I had intermittently wondered, "I wonder how Eric B. is doing?" As the war has worn on, he was one of those people I hoped wasn't in harms way someplace. Yeah, so, much to my relief, as of today, he's married with a little toddler, driving a Volvo, shopping organic and distinctly NOT in the military. Good news, that.

ETA: This is not to say that I believe there is anything inherently wrong with joining the military, especially if that is what you would find most rewarding to do with your life. It's just that at this time, people making that choice are, as well all know, exposing themselves to quite a lot of obvious kinds of danger they might not necessarily have been exposed to at another point. I feel concern for anyone in the armed services right now and in the future, even if I didn't go to high school/college with them. Please don't flame me.

[BlueIris]

1. Okay. Just had to share. nt.

[Phentex]

2. Interesting about your friend.

Did you ask why he changed his mind?