2002

In 2002 Brian Holt deployed overseas with his squadron. He was gone from early spring until late summer. Linda Vasquez placed a reserved sign on the stool at the back of The Runway Bar, on the right, near the wall. No one sat there. No one was told not to.

The band played the stool's absence at the same volume as its presence. Marcus did not mention Brian in any briefing. He did add one line to the log after each show: seat held. The line appears eleven times.

In September Brian returned. He came to the next show at The Runway Bar. He sat on the stool. Linda took the sign down. Marcus noted in the log: seat reoccupied. The band played the rest of the set with what Elaine has again described as additional weight.

By day, Marcus began writing a position paper on the retention of the A-10. He wrote it in his own time, at his kitchen table, in the format he used at work. It cited flight-hour costs, sortie rates and the history of retirement proposals going back a decade. He has since revised it many times. The 2002 draft is the first in his files.

Elaine Kowalczyk was promoted to first sergeant in the Arizona Army National Guard. She had served fifteen years. She told the band about the promotion at rehearsal in one sentence. Marcus noted it. Dave said that was correct. Dennis asked if she would need leave. She said she would submit a request.

Her studio had fifty students across two rooms. The second instructor covered her drill weekends. Elaine left each of them a lesson plan. The plans were followed.

Dennis became lead engineer on projects he will not name. Dave trained new drivers at the charter company. He gave each of them a list of every stop on their first route with the minute it was due. Tony's shop had three bays and two mechanics. The van had a shelf of its own.

In June the band played Clovis, New Mexico, near Cannon Air Force Base. The audience included people from the base. Dave identified the aircrew by the way they stood at the bar. He pointed with his chin. Marcus nodded once.

The band played twenty-one shows in 2002. In the year-end summary Marcus recorded the A-10 as still in service. He then added a second line, which had not appeared before. It read: Watch the next budget.