As a news reporter and columnist for a number of years, I've often thought about creating a blog to put my thoughts down for whoever might care to read them (as though anything that may come out of my mind would be worthy of keeping for posterity). Some people do care, I think, as there are thoughts I've committed to publication that still live on people's refrigerators. Some are there by people who want to recall why they love what I wrote while others wish to be reminded why they couldn't stand me. Whatever works for the individual. A friend of mine who is a columnist in Shreveport once told me that all of it goes eventually to line the birdcage, but if someone particularly likes what he writes, perhaps they'll give him the courtesy of placing his photo face down. That's probably the best we can ever hope for.

I received the news today that my oldest son will likely be deployed to Afghanistan before the end of the year. I'm still trying to process that information and it amazes me that I'm going to try and process it in public. The only explanation I can fathom is that, as a longtime columnist, I lived out my life in public, and now my experience may be of some help to others. Unless, of course, it is nothing more than self-indulgence (which I'm sure my ex-wife would be happy to say is the case). Anyway, I'm more frightened tonight than I think I've ever been. To know that the child I've tried so hard for so many years to keep out of harm's way will go into harm's way and I will not be able to protect him. Even if all should go well and he returns unscathed physically, he will be changed forever in ways that I will never be able to understand, and in ways that I will never be able to share with him. My prayer, however, is that he will return, and we'll deal with the rest later.

I'm not sure what the purpose of this whole exercise is. I only know that the only thing I really know how to do is write. I have no other real skills. So I write. I pour my life and my feelings out for public consumption and let the chips fall where they may. I remember that, when I first began writing a column for publication (many years ago) I had two overpowering fears. One was that no one would read what I had to say. The other was that someone would read what I had to say. To put your feelings and thoughts out in public for others to consume is a frightening thing, to say the least. So, sometimes I may say something you believe is important. Or I may say something you believe is a total waste of cyberspace. Either way, here it is.