At ease.

We had a party in Mayberry on Sunday. The kind where women cry and men hug and children eat cake and everybody sends up a little prayer of gratitude.

The party was a homecoming for Sergeant Major Dean Bridges. (The Sergeant is the husband of my lifelong friend Johnna.) He had just completed a second tour of duty in the Middle East. His first year-long assignment was in Afghanistan, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. His most recent year was spent in Iraq, where he and members of Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Brigade provided security at Camp Cropper near Baghdad and Camp Bucca, south of Basra.

About 40 family members and friends gathered at Johnna and Dean’s home, hanging banners, decorating with red and blue balloons and streamers, and waiting anxiously for their arrival from Oklahoma City. And from the moment the Sergeant walked in the door, eager eyes and arms couldn’t get enough of him. In fact, even stoic teenage boys couldn’t resist a hug.

At ease.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

And youngsters got both hugs and fist bumps.

Meanwhile, the grown-ups feasted on enchiladas and rice and home-grown tomatoes. . .

And the children gobbled up cake . . .

And the teenagers played Rock Band . . .

And kids of all ages burned off pent-up energy sparked by the joy of the occasion . . .

And the Sergeant reveled in the company of his clan and the affection of his two best girls.

It’s good to see you at ease, soldier. We’re so glad you’re home to stay.

______________

Shamelessly Political Postscript: The Sergeant is running for District 2 County Commissioner in Mayberry. If you live in our county, I hope you’ll vote Bridges on Nov. 4. When he wins, I can’t decide if I’m going to call him Sergeant Commissioner or Commissioner Sergeant. Or maybe His High Excellency the Major Commissioner.