I made it. I am now firmly ensconced in the US Army, or rather the South Carolina National Guard. After a week of pokes and prods, waiting in long lines, and sitting quietly, I can now expect more of the same!
For those of you who aren't familiar with South Carolina geography, I'm sleeping under the green arrow below:
Other than an infuriatingly slow bus trip, the day has been uneventful. I was impressed first thing this morning by a group of well-wishers as we boarded the buses. Apparently they're out there every week giving the sailors heading overseas a smile and a pat on the back. We each received a small care package loaded with delicious junk food, home baked cookies, and a note from a local 4th grade class. The cynic in me found it slightly comical, but I suppressed that impression and tried to appreciate the good natured outpouring of support as just that.There were some heart-wrenching moments as young mothers and fathers said goodbye to their children, including a new-born infant, and families parted ways. This is a clear reminder of one of the greatest sacrifice of the men and women being sent over seas: lost time with their families. Whether going to the relative safe locations of Kuwait or Qatar, or facing danger in Anbar or Helmand, all these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines will miss out on countless irreplaceable moments in the lives of the families and loved ones. I know that, for me at least, this is the most difficult aspect of the deployment.
Now we're just back in sit-and-wait mode, the next event doesn't happen until tomorrow afternoon. The weeks are heavily scheduled, but we should have some time to relax and head into Columbia next weekend, which I hear is the New YorkCity of the South...
