Reflections

I find myself reflecting upon things as of late. The time spent on R&R leave, time with family, friends, and a special someone who's status I hope will change in the Fall like we discussed. I look back at everything that has happened since September and our Home Station training, and I look ahead at the future and what it might bring about.

I look at the state of the world, or rather my little slice of it, and I can't help but wonder. I wonder at times where the support for our current mission has gone. Now days it seems like once you get north of I80 people don't care as much as they used to about what goes on outside of Iowa. I wonder what would happen if the people who are vocally against the war would take some of that energy and instead of talking, applied it to making a difference not just abroad but here in the States as well.

I read the Counter Insurgency (COIN) manual, other military blogs, books written by fellow veterans, and I wonder why we don't apply those same principles here in the States, or even with the Third Country Nationals that we work with almost daily.

I passed an elderly lady driving a car on the road yesterday who was only going about 10 or 15 MPH if even that. I hypocritically didn't stop to offer assistance yet at the same time wondered why nobody did. The lady looked confused, possibly from car trouble, possibly for other reasons. I couldn't help but wonder, at what point did I become so jaded that I felt I no longer had time to help a stranger?

I've also reflected on how it feels to be home. I may have been in town, but it was almost a full week before I was truly "home". There's a special someone behind that reason. I have however, caught myself an many an occasion refering to overseas as home. I guess "home" is not always just where your hat or heart is after all...or perhaps there really is more than one type of home.

Leave has been good over all. At times it was exactly by the book in that there was more to do than I had time for. Balancing time with kids, friends, and loved ones wasn't as easy I would have liked, but over all it was a beneficial, and much needed, rest and reset. I was able to get confirmation and answers to questions I've had since before Texas, and I now know for sure that there' someone other than my kids and family waiting for the unit to return when our mission is over. As partially guilty as I am to admit it, that probably made the entire difference. I'd love to be able to tell the world about someone I spent time with, but Operational Security isn't just for the military aspect of my life...and I don't want to jinx things like I always seem to.

I've had my inspiration for writing renewed over the last two weeks. I've noticed that Love tends to do that to me. Another source came from an unexpected compliment from my older brother-in-law that I will never forget and always hold dear.

Speaking of motivation, after the seemingly forever delay it appears I will finally have the permissions and connections I need to actually start writing, filming, and photographing what our daily lives are like overseas. Unfortunately a 1.5 minute news report can't do justice covering what we do, so in addition to those I will expand upon any news reports here in my blog. I will try to keep up with the "personal" writing that so many people have said they enjoy, but I will occasionally attempt a "news article" as well...Powers-That-Be permitting. Along with the Nikon back in my trunk overseas, I also acquired a camcorder that (finally) meets the specifications of what I need to pull off what I want to do. I've spent time fiddling with my editing software, and with a little luck, continual inspiration, and God willing, I'll be able to do more sharing about life overseas than I have in the past. I so need to check into Journalism classes when I get home...

So here's to the second half of the deployment. We're not quite at the top of the hill yet, but we should be on the downhill slide in the next few weeks. Spring is a time of renewal, and renewed is how I feel.

Everyone be safe.

~~~

(Photo is of the often referred to bottle cap. Carried on my person since the night I got it from someone special.)