Wow! I didn't realize that it's been over a week since my last post. First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who posted your concern to my panic attack episode that first weekend home. Fortunately, my wife was very understanding and she didn't ask me to do any more shopping for the rest of the weekend. Of course, Monday morning was a different story...
"If we go somewhere you're a little more familiar with and we go when most people will be a work, there shouldn't be too much to freak you out, and if there is, we'll leave right away... but you do need new shoes."
Okay, fine. We'll go shopping. At least the boy was in "school" for the morning, so we were able to shop in relative quiet. Although we started out looking for a new pair of nice dress shoes, I couldn't find any I liked, but since my current running shoes were starting to show some serious signs of wear and tear, I bought a new pair. I almost always get Nike shoes, but I usually at least look at other brands. Anyway, since I knew that these would be the shoes I run in over the winter (in the rain perhaps) and since the Corps issued me a pair of NB shoes in boot camp for PT, I figured I could do worse than these. Besides, when you don't care what color you're wearing and are willing to get (*gasp*) last year's model, you can save several dollars for more important things like the upcoming birthday ball in Las Vegas. Yeah, baby!
So, this morning, we had a couple hundred more Marines and sailors get home. There's more due in later today and the rest should get in over the weekend. After that, well, there's leave (aka... vacation) and then we start getting ready for our next deployment. Sound like fun? It's not, but as I remind myself everytime I feel like complaining: A) somebody has to do it, if not me then who? B) I freely enlisted and reenlisted several times to get to this point in my career, and C) after all, it's a living... sorta. :-)
Wednesday, September 28
Saturday, September 17
and so it begins
It's official. I have been altered by my experiences in a combat zone.
Yesterday started quite well. We went to Glen Ivy for some much needed time for just the two of us. The original plan was to stay up there overnight and then go to the mall today. However, Jen's mom couldn't stay with the kids that long, so we modified the schedule to do both at once. After we left the day spa we went to dinner and then hit the mall... and that's when it happened.
I'd never had a panic attack before and I still don't know what caused it, but I could not get out of that place fast enough. Oh, dinner was fine, but something about the sea of faces (with unknown intent behind them) threw me into a panic. I managed to hold it together long enough so we could get the kids some much needed clothes, but we didn't stay nearly as long as my wife wanted to and I didn't get a chance to look for some new running shoes (since the ones I have are just about worn out from the use and abuse they've been through over the last seven months). It even got to the point where my wife had to drive home. All I can say is good thing medical coverage, including counseling, is part of my compensation package cuz otherwise, it wouldn't be much of a living. We were invited to a birthday party this afternoon and I'm even getting nervous thinking about that. This does not look promising for the crowds that are sure to swarm when we go to church tomorrow.
Yesterday started quite well. We went to Glen Ivy for some much needed time for just the two of us. The original plan was to stay up there overnight and then go to the mall today. However, Jen's mom couldn't stay with the kids that long, so we modified the schedule to do both at once. After we left the day spa we went to dinner and then hit the mall... and that's when it happened.
I'd never had a panic attack before and I still don't know what caused it, but I could not get out of that place fast enough. Oh, dinner was fine, but something about the sea of faces (with unknown intent behind them) threw me into a panic. I managed to hold it together long enough so we could get the kids some much needed clothes, but we didn't stay nearly as long as my wife wanted to and I didn't get a chance to look for some new running shoes (since the ones I have are just about worn out from the use and abuse they've been through over the last seven months). It even got to the point where my wife had to drive home. All I can say is good thing medical coverage, including counseling, is part of my compensation package cuz otherwise, it wouldn't be much of a living. We were invited to a birthday party this afternoon and I'm even getting nervous thinking about that. This does not look promising for the crowds that are sure to swarm when we go to church tomorrow.
Thursday, September 15
Safe at home
It sounds like the title of an entry for a baseball story, doesn't it?
"He's rounding third and heading for the plate... Here comes the relay throw, it's gonna be a close play... and he's... SAFE AT HOME!"
We actually got home yesterday, but I was sure that you all would understand if the first thing I did when I arrived had absolutely nothing to do with the computer, the internet, my blog-friends, or anything like that.
My wife was there at the basketball court to pick me up. Her mom had agreed to stay at the house with the baby and our boy was at his daycare (aka: school) so she didn't have to worry about entertaining kids while keeping an eye open for me to arrive. We were processed through March AFB very smoothly and were quickly loaded onto a bus for the trip down to Camp Pendleton. See, one advantage to being on the advance party (other than the fact that I get to come home two weeks early) is that I traveled with a much smaller group of Marines who were picked to be on this detachment due to our ability to act responsibly and just get things done without a lot of baby sitting. Therefore, when 45 men show up and go through a process that was tailored for up to 200 Marines at a time, it doesn't take very long.
Anyway, we took our bus down to our home base and stopped at the armory to turn in our weapons before meeting our families. By the way, in a HUGE twist of irony, I was reminded several times that I had to pack my nail clippers in my checked bags (seabag, or duffel bag) but I had to carry my pistol with me at all times... HUH? I'm still scatching my head over that one, but I digress. We got to the armory and learned that we'd made the drive with a flat tire. Well, at least we made it in one piece. After that, we got into formation and marched up to the afore mentioned basketball court, which was part of the courtyard of three barracks buildings. As we marched in, I spotted the world's prettiest girl with her digital camera, but I had to keep my head and eyes straight ahead, so I lost track of her. Thankfully, there were no speeches (the Officer in Charge of our group read a letter from the battalion commander over the cabin speakers on the plane) so we were dismissed and released. I spun around and there she was. We hugged tightly and kissed a couple of times, then I got my bags and we left.
We went straight to my son's school and sat in the parking lot for a few minutes talking while we waited for his class to come out to the playground. When we spotted him, we got out and ended his school day early (30 minutes) and after he showed me around his classroom and introduced me to some of his friends, we went home. That's where I saw my mother-in-law (she's a great lady) and learned that my daughter was asleep upstairs. After she woke from her nap we went to lunch and spent the rest of the day as every family should spend a day from time to time: together.
Anyway, after all the hoop-lah was over with, and all was said and done, I was more than grateful to be home. Was there more to my day yesterday? Yes, but since I don't have an age verification system on my blog, and my parents read this, I'm not going to say anything else ;-)
A huge thank-you goes out to all of you who have read and commented on my postings over the last several months. I would hazard a guess that this outlet has been almost therapeutic for me as I've learned to deal with the stresses of being in a combat zone. Even though I'm just an admin dude, I've learned again that "There's no place like home." I will continue to blog, of course, but I intend to change my template up a bit and I'm not even sure that I will stay on blogger. We have some work to do to prepare our spaces for the main body's return, but after that we will have a period of post-deployment leave (aka: vacation) and that's when I intend to tinker with my webspace here. Please let me know what you think and offer any suggestions you may have. As you'll notice, I've had to turn on my word verification system thanks to that evil spam monster out there haunting cyber-space. Oh well, life goes on right?
Peace to you and yours,
Semper Fidelis
"He's rounding third and heading for the plate... Here comes the relay throw, it's gonna be a close play... and he's... SAFE AT HOME!"
We actually got home yesterday, but I was sure that you all would understand if the first thing I did when I arrived had absolutely nothing to do with the computer, the internet, my blog-friends, or anything like that.
My wife was there at the basketball court to pick me up. Her mom had agreed to stay at the house with the baby and our boy was at his daycare (aka: school) so she didn't have to worry about entertaining kids while keeping an eye open for me to arrive. We were processed through March AFB very smoothly and were quickly loaded onto a bus for the trip down to Camp Pendleton. See, one advantage to being on the advance party (other than the fact that I get to come home two weeks early) is that I traveled with a much smaller group of Marines who were picked to be on this detachment due to our ability to act responsibly and just get things done without a lot of baby sitting. Therefore, when 45 men show up and go through a process that was tailored for up to 200 Marines at a time, it doesn't take very long.
Anyway, we took our bus down to our home base and stopped at the armory to turn in our weapons before meeting our families. By the way, in a HUGE twist of irony, I was reminded several times that I had to pack my nail clippers in my checked bags (seabag, or duffel bag) but I had to carry my pistol with me at all times... HUH? I'm still scatching my head over that one, but I digress. We got to the armory and learned that we'd made the drive with a flat tire. Well, at least we made it in one piece. After that, we got into formation and marched up to the afore mentioned basketball court, which was part of the courtyard of three barracks buildings. As we marched in, I spotted the world's prettiest girl with her digital camera, but I had to keep my head and eyes straight ahead, so I lost track of her. Thankfully, there were no speeches (the Officer in Charge of our group read a letter from the battalion commander over the cabin speakers on the plane) so we were dismissed and released. I spun around and there she was. We hugged tightly and kissed a couple of times, then I got my bags and we left.
We went straight to my son's school and sat in the parking lot for a few minutes talking while we waited for his class to come out to the playground. When we spotted him, we got out and ended his school day early (30 minutes) and after he showed me around his classroom and introduced me to some of his friends, we went home. That's where I saw my mother-in-law (she's a great lady) and learned that my daughter was asleep upstairs. After she woke from her nap we went to lunch and spent the rest of the day as every family should spend a day from time to time: together.
Anyway, after all the hoop-lah was over with, and all was said and done, I was more than grateful to be home. Was there more to my day yesterday? Yes, but since I don't have an age verification system on my blog, and my parents read this, I'm not going to say anything else ;-)
A huge thank-you goes out to all of you who have read and commented on my postings over the last several months. I would hazard a guess that this outlet has been almost therapeutic for me as I've learned to deal with the stresses of being in a combat zone. Even though I'm just an admin dude, I've learned again that "There's no place like home." I will continue to blog, of course, but I intend to change my template up a bit and I'm not even sure that I will stay on blogger. We have some work to do to prepare our spaces for the main body's return, but after that we will have a period of post-deployment leave (aka: vacation) and that's when I intend to tinker with my webspace here. Please let me know what you think and offer any suggestions you may have. As you'll notice, I've had to turn on my word verification system thanks to that evil spam monster out there haunting cyber-space. Oh well, life goes on right?
Peace to you and yours,
Semper Fidelis
Monday, September 12
time killing...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Can't wait to get on the plane to go home...
Ten more hours...
Three long flights to Germany, Canada, then California...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Can't wait to get on the plane to go home...
Ten more hours...
Three long flights to Germany, Canada, then California...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Twiddlin my thumbs...
Sunday, September 4
A fond Farewell
To my friend...
I hadn't seen you in a couple of years, but when we met again not long ago it was like you'd never left. Now we must part company again. Why? Well, it's really just a matter of choice. I can choose to spend more time with you, or I can do what I can to please my wife, so there's really not much of a choice. All things being equal, I'd love to be able to have both of you in my life at the same time, but that's just not an option here. Besides, the last time you met my son it kind of freaked him out. Now that I have a daughter who only remembers me from my pictures, I need to do what I can to look like those pictures when I get home. Granted, I won't be in my dress uniform when I get there, but that's a minor detail compared to the way she might react if you were there with me.
Well, friend, I guess it's time for me to say so long. Hopefully it will be a while before we see each other again but in this field you never can tell. You will be missed but I will think of you every morning (except Saturday). Now it's time to get rid of you, Mr. Moustache.
PS. To everyone else out there,(Mike, SteelCowboy, Karyn, and many others) this will be my last entry from my current location. This afternoon I will begin a journey that will take me half-way around the world and may take over a week. Thank you for all of your support and prayers while I've been gone from my family and friends. The next time I sign on I will no longer be "Bill in Iraq." I will be "Bill in California!" Cheers!
I hadn't seen you in a couple of years, but when we met again not long ago it was like you'd never left. Now we must part company again. Why? Well, it's really just a matter of choice. I can choose to spend more time with you, or I can do what I can to please my wife, so there's really not much of a choice. All things being equal, I'd love to be able to have both of you in my life at the same time, but that's just not an option here. Besides, the last time you met my son it kind of freaked him out. Now that I have a daughter who only remembers me from my pictures, I need to do what I can to look like those pictures when I get home. Granted, I won't be in my dress uniform when I get there, but that's a minor detail compared to the way she might react if you were there with me.
Well, friend, I guess it's time for me to say so long. Hopefully it will be a while before we see each other again but in this field you never can tell. You will be missed but I will think of you every morning (except Saturday). Now it's time to get rid of you, Mr. Moustache.
PS. To everyone else out there,(Mike, SteelCowboy, Karyn, and many others) this will be my last entry from my current location. This afternoon I will begin a journey that will take me half-way around the world and may take over a week. Thank you for all of your support and prayers while I've been gone from my family and friends. The next time I sign on I will no longer be "Bill in Iraq." I will be "Bill in California!" Cheers!
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