By the time you read this I’ll be less than 24 hours from the arms of THE WOMAN.
If things have moved forward according plan I’ve completed 95% of my out processing paper work and am getting ready to get on the last bus home. There’s one more stop ahead of me, then a final bus ride back to the Knoxville armory where my bride awaits me. We’re going to take two or three days to get back to DC.
The Army has instructed me to take it slow integrating back into my regular life. The number of Solider suicides has shot up in recent years and nobody really understands why. It’s more than just PTSD because there’s no pattern that says troops in intense combat have a higher suicide rate than those that have never fired a shot in anger. I can only hope that someone smarter than me figures it out – and soon.
For me, I intend to start by getting to know my wife again. In the Biblical sense for sure, but also to understand how she’s been changed by not having me around everyday. I’ve changed too, but I can’t see it since it’s been a slow thing and I’ve been around it as it happened. After that I’ll spend some time with the kids learning how they’ve changed this past year.
Our only real plans call for a week at the beach doing nothing. THE BOY wants to spend a full day in bed eating popcorn and watching Family Guy. That sounds like a plan to me.
TC
