I should have known better...

Well, I’m back from NYC. I went to see my family before going to Iraq. It was a really nice visit. So, I get a phone call, Tuesday morning, from my buddy telling me that the mobilization date is set. I get some e-mails with all the official information, etc from NGB an hour later. So, I’m all set. I had a firm date, I see the orders coming down from higher, etc… then my commander calls. He tells me that they have a platoon coming from another state to fill in where we needed people and they’ll be brining an LT with them... So, the unit will need to send one less LT. I tell him that I still want to go. By the time I was headed to Little Italy for dinner, my commander calls to tell me that it turns out that the BN CDR (or maybe it was the XO) made the decision. So... no deployment for Partamian. I’m the one with a pregnant wife. (I know, I should be grateful and I am) However, I told everyone I was going. I canceled my slot for The Army Instructor Training Course (TAITC) to visit the family. This will be false alarm number two for my employer. I'm a little embarrassed. I mean, I was on the list to go, but I feel foolish now. I tried to give my employer a "heads-up" and prepare them for a mobilization base on a stated date. Deep down I thought "maybe I should just sit tight and wait for actual orders”, but since I was told that I was going… and saw my name on the UMR which showed me as one of the ones going... and I was told to report to Ft Stewart this coming weekend (orders were on the way)... Hell! I get to be here for the baby. That's a huge plus, and I know it will make things better on Anne, but I still feel really weird about the whole thing. A lot of people don’t understand how much this bummed me out. Everyone in my family is happy about it but me. I was prepared to do this. I’ll get over it I suppose. It’s not like I’ve never been over there. I went to DS/DS. I don’t think the GWOT is going to end tomorrow… So, I’ll go eventually. It’s just really a great big psyche out. I’ll pick up this rambling vent tomorrow. I’ll have to call to see when I’m needed back in the office. Hell, I cleaned out my cubicle and everything.