Countdown

Today marks the date that I can safely say I will be back to the United States in a month or less. I hesitate to say it, because the world has a way of screwing with plans, but I'm going for it. Less than a month... and I'll be 10,000 miles away from any of this, and yet I have a sinking suspicion that the actuality will be that much of this place will stay with me for quite some time. Some good things, some bad things, and many things in between.

My understanding of the plans for my return are that my parents will meet me in Port Hueneme along with Brian & Elke, my best friends in San Diego. We'll head back to San Diego for the 72-96 hour liberty and my only goal is to relax, sleep a full nights rest, and not have to worry about anything at all. I'll get to pick up my Jeep and motorcycle and check on the boat, and move all of the new Jeep parts out of Brian's garage into mine.

After the short break in San Diego I'll be back up in Port Hueneme to check out of the NCR and go through the demobilization process. Medical checkups, paperwork, returning all my gear, and probably a bunch of sitting around waiting for bureaucracy just like when I came out here. Then it's all done and I can start my terminal leave. As a Reservist I don't get to keep my vacation time earned while I was out here so I can either sell out for a lump sum or take the time, which will be about a month. I'm definitely taking the time off!!!

Anna flys in from Chicago right around when my demobilization process ends and we're going to the Seabee Ball up in Port Hueneme. It'll be good to see everyone and meet all of the families and wives and girlfriends that I have heard so much about over the past 6 months. I'm sure there will be plenty of shared memories, sea-stories, and drinks. The Ball is at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, which is apparently a very swank location and quite the classy affair. Luckily I'll have a few more medals to pin on my uniform from this deployment so I won't look so out-of-place among the rest of the group.

From there, it's just time off in San Diego. Working on the Jeep, spending the day out on the bay, or lounging around in my pajamas all day - no rocket attacks, no weapon to worry about, no deadlines, no one telling me what to do or how to do it, no need to worry about who or what is around the next corner. It's going to be nice... very nice.

And then it's back to "real life" as though none of this had ever happened... That may be an entire blog of its own...