Life Down On The Farm

Yesterday Eli came home to Iowa after being gone for 6 months. Two of those months were in the states and the other four in Iraq. He is now home for 2 weeks of R & R. Becky is over-the-moon excited, as I am sure I would be if Dan had been gone that long. But...my thing is, why does everyone else make such a big deal out of the fact that he is home? Brian was gone for six months over the summer and while in Kansas, and when he came home there was no big family party for him or all his friends hurrying over to see him. Some people say Eli coming home is a big deal because he has been in danger and it is nice to see him safe. I say pooh to that. He never leaves the base and Iraq is nowhere near as dangerous as it used to be. Anyone living anywhere is in just about as much danger as he is. I understand his parents are excited to see him, I am excited to see my kids when they come home too. But honestly, how many parents go for a year or more without seeing their kids? I know one couple who only sees their kids at Christmas time simply because they all live so far away and everyone is busy. Yet these people quietly celebrate with the kids and grandkids...no big party for them. Like I said, I understand the excitement of Becky and of Eli's parents...but don't expect me to share that extreme joy. He came home, he will leave again for another six months, come home and probably leave sometime again. This is the way life works...I am glad he is safe, I am glad he gets some time to visit, but I don't think it deserves any more attention then any other person visiting after having been gone. Just sayin'.