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| Hi everybody, it’s the 25th of June, my daughter Bethany’s third birthday back at home. I haven’t had much time to think about that the last few weeks. Life has been a blur since the beginning of June, with all the preparations to turn over our jobs to the incoming group of Marines that will be replacing us. It’s great, because it means we’re that much closer to being home, but it’s very hectic.
I’ve found myself with a spike in my counseling hours, too, because so many soldiers are feeling anxious about this big change coming up. Life in the desert, in combat, in the Middle East has become normal to us. We think 100 degrees for a high is a cool day. We drive down the center of the road in huge, armed and armored vehicles, and other cars get out of our way. We’re used to killing time for days on end, guarding an outpost where success is defined as a day when absolutely nothing happens. We’ve suppressed every emotion we have except for anger, the one emotion that helps us do our job even when it’s awful. We have learned not to trust people, especially if they don’t wear a uniform like us. Yeah, going home will be a change, and change is always stressful. But it’s a stress that everyone here looks forward to. I’m ready for changes and challenges, and so are my guys. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, and we’re not going to be ambushed by the challenges of this transition. We’ve handled every other challenge out here, bring on the challenge of reintegration as well. Can you tell I have a little more life in me than over the past few months? It’s the sprint to the finish line, I guess. We’ve already started to welcome ‘aboard’ some of the Marines who will be replacing us. The rest aren’t far behind. I can smell the finish line ahead. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to write in this transition time. Maybe once a week, maybe this is my last one. Just have to roll with it, I guess. As soon as I have a firm date for a return, I’ll start to let people know. Please understand it’s not set yet, and it won’t be until we reach Ft. McCoy in late July. Please DON’T keep asking Michelle when I’m coming back. Neither she nor I nor anyone else will be able to tell you for another few weeks. I know some units are already on the way home; we’re the last unit out from the 1/34th brigade, and a lot of things are still changing. If you figure sometime in the first week of August, you won’t be far off. So for those of you at home, I hope to see you in a few weeks! God be good to you! |