My Brother's Homecoming from Iraq!!!

No, not the dance.  He's been deployed with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq since January 2007.  Christmas 2006 was the 1st Christmas we spent with him since 2003, and we missed this last one too...this was his 3rd deploy.  I can't wait to see him!  I've always had something really (hmph) important going on or was on my way and missed the actual landing and haven't seen him come home to the base yet, so this will be my first trip there. 

Mom says that it's really neat.  There is a small band (Army band) and always lots of people.  He's going to be one of the first planes in, and I saw the first piece of official news about their homecoming today in my Google alert... (82nd Return From Baghdad Made Official). 

These photos are from when he came home after his 1st deployment.  You can see the celebration.  Mom said she spoke with my brother a few days ago and he said he was "Fantastic!"  So rare for him, let me tell you.  He is eager to come home, but we've learned that they aren't coming home until they step off the airplane. 

Last time, we heard there were delays we were advised about, and we were set to head down (we were staying in Raleigh and had to get down to Fayetteville), but then he ended up coming home early.  That upset my mom, that she wasn't able to be there, but we were more than happy just to have him home. 

So I've arranged for a substitute who speaks English, and have the well-wishes of my department head and principal (it is FCAT week, after all)...this from the guy who said, "The only excuse for missing FCAT week is if Gramma is having twins."  Which is nice to know.  My department head said she would talk to the principal for me, and it went fine.  Apparently he's very pro-military, which serves my own purposes, I guess.  Funny how people's personal opinions can help you out on occasion, but more often than not they screw you over.  I'll just be sure to remember this one. 

But all in all, this is about my brother, family, and us being together after 15 months of hell.  Even though I know you can die just as easily on US soil, it's a load off my shoulders when he's here. 

I can't wait!!!!!!