Mood:
happyIt's been almost a year since I've last wrote. The reasoning is simple. It was too hard to talk about life on deployment without including the details that I couldn't provide. It's not that I was doing anything "secret squirell" or anything. -Just normal day to day life, but everything is scrutinized and it was just easier to say nothing all.
But I am on my way home now! I am currently sitting in a bar in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, awaiting my flight to somewhere in Europe (either Nurnberg or Aviano. -Or maybe Venice...) The bar is called Pete's Place, named after a fallen Firefighter here on the American Air Base. In not sure if he was universally liked, or it he just dank a lot, but now "Pete" has a "Place" that serves beer and other ARBs (adult recreational beverages). There's also pool, ping-pong, darts, popcorn, and loud music (sometimes live!). War is hell, here in Manas.
It means nothing to me to be sitting here. I don't drink. Some of the guys I am here with are having serious issues with watching the alcohol being consumed by people that aren't them. One of them actually said, "I'm going to sit by the bar, so at least I can smell it..." I'd think he had a problem, but he's been dry for a year (minus R&R) so his problem can't be that pronounced...
A year in Afghanistan was certainly a challenge. To quote another Staff Officer, also a Major, "I've never worked so hard at a jobh, day in and day out, and still felt EVERY DAY that I was on the verge of getting fired." It was a demanding tour. I didn't realize how tired I was until I arrived at Manas. I slept 14-hours last night. The guys came to get me for dinner, but apparently couldn't wake me up!
I am VERY happy to be returning home to Kimberly and Jacoby, and am looking forward to both of my next two leave periods. The first is Block Leave, which I will take in January. We are going on an Eastern Med. Cruise, which I'll write more about on some other post. The second will be Kimberly and me going to Pennsylvania to watch Sabrina graduate from college.
That's about all for now. The point behind this post is just to say that I am on the way home, that I'm no longer in Afghanistan, and that the posts should return to a somewhat normal schedule, whatever that means.
Take care!
