4000

This spring brings with it a zeitgeist of restlessness and dissent that nicely compliments the choices facing T and I in the coming weeks and months. When I read the morning headlines and ponder the issues of the day, my reaction is visceral.

4,000 American soldiers have died, another gruesome milestone. The occasion is marked by the obligatory news stories and slide shows. Unlike the 3,000th (overshadowed by its New Years Day timing) or even the 1,000th death, this occasion stands out to me.

Looking back, this spring will bring with it the memory of renewed hope in American politics, after so many years (read: 7) of numbed disillusionment. And it will bring with it the memory of sad benchmarks, and $3.23 a gallon gas, and the brink of a new chapter whose future can scarcely be imagined.