First Tour

A week or so ago on our way to Toronto a young, like 18 or 19, woman in military fatigues came into the airport with her family in tow. They watched nervously as she retrieved her electronic ticket from the new computers they have in place of an actual airline employee. Later she joined us in the international "wait room" sitting by herself in brand new boots, looking a little lonely and maybe a little scared.
Finally a man next to us asked: Where are you headed?
She said: Iraq
Man: Been there before?
Soldier: No, this is my first tour.

Then they both fell silent and the young woman soldier continued to stare into space. Finally she retrieved her digital camera from a pocket and started flipping through pictures. I saw a faint smile cross her face and I imagined her looking at pictures of her family, maybe last night's sendoff with smiling nieces and a grandfather and weeping mother and a big brother looking proud.

I watched her from the corner of my eye wondering what led her to this place, this 4:00 AM airport about to take off for a war zone. I wondered how people come to be in such circumstances.

Later, after we boarded she walked past us toward the rear of the plane. I noticed a young male soldier boarding right behind her. Five minutes later a flight attendant retrieved both soldiers, brought them up the aisle and upgraded them to first class. A final touch of luxury before reality set in.