These words that I write, they keep me from total insanity. -Charles Bukowski

Oct 20, 2008

Home Is Where The Heartbreak Is...

I just got home yesterday. First and foremost I would like to say that my last post was partly right, and mostly wrong. My unit managed to finagle us over a week of leave instead of just a 4 day pass. Which is orgasmic to say the least. I have to give them credit for that. However, they followed the steps to a T, on how to get us to work our balls off in order to get everything done prior to putting us on leave. Then they went so far as to release us at 2200 which is a full 2 hours prior to them having to let us go. I just wish our commander had like a 1900 flight, then we would've gotten out of there wicked early.

I also managed to rent a truck for the trek up to Raleigh from Fort Bragg. Which was an adventure in and of itself. I mean stick 5 soldiers who have been cooped up on top of about 200 other guys for over 6 weeks and then finally let them loose with a bank full of money and a lot of pent up "energy" and things are bound to get a little weird. Suffice it to say that we had fun, and I will keep my thoughts on that night to myself, at least until the statute of limitations runs out.

Next I would like to say thank you to all the nice people at the "Office Tavern" in Raleigh, North Carolina. You guys were wonderful to us, you kept us drinking and kept us out of trouble for the most part. And a special thanks to Renee or Amanda for letting us crash out at your place and not making us sleep in the truck in the airport parking lot. Maybe in a year or so we'll swing back through and buy you a beer or two.

Now I am home. Mixed emotions to say the least. I am incredibly happy to be home with the family, but I realize that in about a week I have to do the whole tearful goodbye thing...AGAIN. This is like the third time for chrissakes.

Then there is all the shit I realize that I miss immensely. I miss the shower that I can actually turn around in. And the water actually has pressure behind it. I actually got some pop out of the refrigerator today, I haven't had anything really cold to drink in 6 weeks. I slept in a bed that is big enough for me. I slept in a place where I couldn't hear every little variation in the air sweeping over me like a wave. I slept in a place where I didn't have to listen to the symphony of snores, grunts, and farts that always accompany any group of soldiers sleeping in close proximity to one another. However, the best thing about my sleep this past night was the fact that I slept until my body said, "hey fatty, its time to get your ass out of bed" Nobody woke me up, nobody dragged me out of the bed yelling about vehicles or weapons or missions or blah, blah, blah.

Yet, the greatest thing I got to do was use the facilities. I mean, you can't believe how wonderful it was to sit in a room, big enough to actually sit comfortably in. In a climate controlled room so you weren't assaulted by either the cold or the heat or the rain or whatever else. Not to mention, I got to use the two-ply paper that feels so very wonderful... Finally, when it was all over, I got to flush. I didn't have to leave it there to stink up the joint. It's absolutely amazing how important some things could actually become.

Once again though, the heartbreak is there because as I hugged my mother, rode in the car, slept in the bed, sat on the throne, ate all the good food, enjoyed the dry living space and everything else. The only thing I could think was, "I only get this for a week" Well it sucks, might as well embrace it.

Next thing to do. A very special thanks to Airman mom for all the nice things she wrote about me. (She doesn't know me that well, haha) But she wrote a nice post about one of my posts, you can read it HERE.

That and thank you "Missy" for all the comments you have made, I got a bunch of my guys all signing up for Anysoldier.com, we can't sign up until we are in country though. I will probably shoot you a few of their names so you can send them stuff. You are a pretty sweet chick. (My apologies if the terminology used is offensive, just the way that I talk.)

Well moving on, I should have some more fun stuff to tell you guys in a couple of days. We are all getting together and going to one of those "gentlemen's clubs" later on this week. A bunch of soldiers who have been stuck in a tent with nothing but Army women around for 6 weeks! Should be quite a time.

Anyways, thanks again, I appreciate everything you guys do...

Love you, Mom.

7 comments:

  1. God Bless you. Keep your head down, complete your mission and come home safe. Thank you for the things you do. You have earned the right to speak anyway that you want to.


    HOOAH,
    Tami

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just make sure you all, make it back to Bragg on time and in one piece!

    Pops
    Father of an 82nd Airborne Paratrooper

    HOOAH!

    And keep us posted as to your goings on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. mud puppy...good to hear you are home! All these "things" which you cherish, are so easily taken for granted by most!
    Make the most of this week, hug your mom a bunch!
    I'll be reading you soon!

    ~AirmanMom returning to her blog...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Mud Puppy:

    Glad to hear you made it home and are enjoyign your family time plus getting in a little celebrating. Let's see now, you are worried the "chick" remark might offend my feminist tendencies (not) but not the "gentlemen's club" comment?? Hmmm ... I'll ponder that one for a while. :)

    Thanks for calling me sweet - I haven't been accused of that in a long while. I assume you can see my contact info in the background and it would be a privilege to support you and your team in any way that you need, just ask. After all it's my duty as you guys are fighting to keep me "burka free"!!

    Take care and stay safe.

    All my best,

    The sweet chick ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Sweet Chick,

    Well truth be told, for the most part, I do write things the way that I would say them regardless of anyone’s sensibilities on…well anything. As far as the gentlemen’s club thing goes I find that term to be absolutely hilarious given the fact that the entire purpose of those places is to act like anything but a gentleman.

    I will probably be forwarding you the contact information for a few of my guys that don’t have anyone back home.

    Funny that you would mention the “Burka” thing, I would have to say that if we wanted these wars over in a hurry, all we would really have to do is tell all the women in the states that they would have to wear burkas and you would see a tidal wave of support and enlistments by the thousands. If there is one thing I have learned in my life it is to never get in the way of a woman and her clothes. (How’s that for a sexist stereotype)

    Thanks again for all your kind words and keep on reading, and I’ll keep on writing.

    Sincerely,

    Mud Puppy

    ReplyDelete
  6. I will continue to read and follow you all the way. This is my passion. My son is a pilot in USAF - deploying to Iraq in Dec. My sympathies are with US Army though. He states he was just smart enough to join the AF. His life is too cushie. Doesn't inspire as much kick ass wonder as infantry army does. Keep your head down, watch your 6 and make it back to stateside. with love lorraine

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love your blog. You write beautifully. You paint with words like the guys over at: http://billandbobsadventure.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

The 24 Inch Gauge...

 Like I said in my last post, I joined a lodge of Freemasons. Immediately upon starting the process you start to learn things. A lot of diff...