A Conversation with My Brother

A little over a week ago I had a conversation with a man. As I was listening to what he was saying, I wondered when, how and why he had grown up and where did my bratty baby brother go. Where did the last 31 years go? Sitting across from me was not the little boy that would torment me, so naturally I would have to torment back. But rather there was a grown man having a very grown up conversation with me. We discussed – rather he told me – what he wanted in the worst case scenarios. He told me how he wanted things handled. He very candidly told me that he was prepared to at the very least get hurt. He’s accepting the reality of his situation. We hugged and cried. I tried to get him to promise me to be careful. His response, “I have to be. There’s 19 other men that I have to keep safe.” It was one of the best, and worst, conversations I have ever had with my brother. I couldn't help but think that it's not right to be having this conversation with him. I don't want to be having this conversation with my brother. I want to have a conversation about falling in love, getting married, raising kids, the price of gas - anything but this. I know he's not the first military personnel to go war, and I know he probably won't be the last, but its' very different when it's one of your own. Please God, keep him safe!