I didn’t think I would be back posting here but here I am.  While in Iraq, I posted a link to a story (October 21, 2009) about a man who joined the Army, because he had been laid off and had no health insurance and his wife had cancer.  In order to get get coverage, he decided to enter basic training and the Army for the 1st time at the age of 39.  How many of us would do this, could do this at that age?  It was just a story that caught my attention.  In a world of uncertainty, it was refreshing to see a story of this kind.  Sacrifices we make, some more than others.

I had forgotten about the story until a couple of weeks ago, I read entries in my blog and came across it.  I wish that I could have forgotten longer after that chance reminder.  Unfortunately, I happened to be browsing JS Online (Journal/Sentinel) today and found the story again, only this time, with a much different theme.  It was the announcement of Bill Caudle’s wife’s death from ovarian cancer.  Maybe that storyline was inevitable given her diagnosis in 2009, but all the same, I would have preferred it had been later than sooner.

So now, because he is still in the Army, Mr. Caudle still has some tough decisions.  He has a 16 year girl that is still in school back home, while he eventually must return to his station in Washington state (he had been working as a recruiter on hardship leave when his wife’s health began to decline).  Stay in or take a hardship separation/discharge?  Given all that has transpired in his life lately, the decision for Bill Caudle will be made, no matter how tough it will be.

The Story

I know it has been over 2 months since I last posted, but I thought I would return to make one more entry.  I suspect that not many people will read this, and that is OK.  A time to bring to a close “The Blog”.  As Al McGuire said (actually it is a combination of 2 quotes), “It’s time.  Every carnival has an end.  Circuses close.  We have to return from the honeymoons.  It’s been super, but now it’s time.  I had my moment on the stage.  The trick in life is to know when to leave.”

I have realized one thing (if nothing else), time is much quicker in the civilian world.  Don’t ask me to explain this.  As I always tell people, there are 60 seconds in everyone’s minute, 60 minutes in everyone’s hour and so on.  Nobody’s time goes any faster than anyone elses.  But the perception of time varies amongst us all.  Herein lies the “break-neck” speed we all know.  Anyway, I must say my biggest challenge has been the management of a hundred things in a day’s time.  Take for instance, 2 weekends ago.  It was my first Army Reserve weekend back.  Friday was a softball tournament in Oshkosh for Alex.  Stopped on the way home and ate with some awesome friends.  Got home, cut my hair, and dug out a uniform to wear and all the paperwork I had to bring in.  Went in at 7:00 Am, was released at 4:00, missed graduation.  Came home and snuck out to 3 graduation parties.  Returned on Sunday for a PT test, drug test, cleaning weapons (I didn’t even use).  Came home at 4:00, snuck out to 2 more graduation parties, opened the gym for basketball, came home and got ready for the next week.  It was the first time I can remember (in a while at least) that I actually welcomed Monday, and work, to catch my breath.  I only had to focus on the classroom, I think!  In conclusion, I think time “accelerates” because we have a tendency to fill up all the minutes of our day with something.  Now, on the other hand, believe it or not, in the military you are there!  That doesn’t mean there is something to do every minute.  It could, but most likely not.  Significant difference.  Just an insight on my part.

And so, we drive on.  I remember a year ago where I was, and I prefer green!  Grass still amazes me.  I let it grow longer these days.  As the memory of the Middle East slowly fades as each day passes, in answer to the questions, “Are you getting use to things back here?”  or “Are you glad to be back?”, absolutely.  Without question.  I am still trying to figure some things out though, and at the top of the list is how to take the foot off the ‘time’ accelerator.

As always, I thank each and every one of you for your support during this chapter and certainly look forward to our next ‘hello’,

Namaste

Why today do I feel compelled to post?  Not sure, but nonetheless, here I am.

Well, I have been back to work now for approximately 30 days.  Like a young child, everyday  is new, a learning experience, high absorption.  In many ways, it is refreshing, in some ways frustrating.  Refreshing in that you attack each day with enthusiasm and energy (we should do this anyways), because there is more to learn, frustrating in that there are some things you think you should know, but don’t.  Now I know how my 6 year old daughter feels on a daily basis!  As I said many times, I am in the September “mode” right now, while everyone else is in the April “mode”.  Certainly provides for some fun moments.

Not that I chose a year on the “beach”, but in it’s own way, it has given me a “new” perspective on things.  A good thing.  I’m sure it will hang around for a while.

Don’t let the sweat dry!

March 8th is the date I return to the classroom.  Of all the things I tried to anticipate upon my return, this single aspect caused me the greatest concern.  Don’t ask me why?  Just human nature maybe.  I have been in the classroom for 18 years, you would think by now, it would be second nature.  But imagine stepping away from what you do, what you are use to, for a year.  In many ways, you have to relearn everything again.  But maybe, that is good.  Pushing yourself outside your “comfort zone”.  Keeps you fresh.

I am not tired of the snow, yet.  You have to remember, I have only had about a month of it.  Talk to me in another month!  Some of the people I deployed with never have been around snow or seasonal change.  Think of how unfortunate that would be.  OK, I may be losing it here a little, but that is one thing we should consider as the winter wears on us.  Variety of seasons.  Not everyone gets to experience that.  As I said the past year, you could always wake up and know for certain, it was going to be hot.  Oh, you may have some wind and it may be overcast, but you knew it was going to be hot.  No suprises.  Knowing that, day in and day out, contributed to the “Ground Hog” Syndrome.  Maybe, just maybe, if there had been any variety in the weather, that Syndrome wouldn’t have been a focal point of my discussions.  I know I have beat that one to death but, if you were there, you would know.  So as crazy as this may sound, I now relish significant seasonal change, no matter what it entails.

Finally, some of you have inquired how my adjustment back into the “civilian” world has gone.  Tomorrow, I am wearing pink!  A pink shirt with pink shoelaces.  No, I am not having trouble dressing.  The players and coaches from both sides (Plymouth vs Waupun, boys basketball) will wear pink to slam dunk cancer with hopes that a cure will be found for it in the near future.  So I am good in the wardrobe  department, for now!

Hope these words find all of you at the top of your game.

Well, I finally made it home.  After 18 days at Fort Dix and 2 snowstorms, the weather finally cooperated  and allowed me passage to Wisconsin.  : )

And so on Saturday, February 13th, (exactly one year to the date that we left Portland for Fort Dix) the 364th Civil Affairs Brigade, after a year of being deployed together parted and went our separate ways.  The majority of them returned to Portland, Oregon, the rest of us, to many different states across the country.  Alabama, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, Idaho, California, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, Colorado, Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and of course Wisconsin.  Diverse and from many walks of life.  Now we all return to the lives we left over a year ago.

And so, another chapter in my life has been written.  A significant one, one which I will never forget.  One thing I truly enjoyed was conversing with you all.  At the same time, it also reminded me, that it shouldn’t take distance to stay in touch.  So my February 13, 2010 resolution is to not take that aspect of my life for granted, to always try to stay connected.

So is this the final entry?  Maybe, maybe not?  I never like to close the door on anything.  As I said before, this blog provided me with something that I so much needed on this deployment.  But maybe in reality it wasn’t the blog itself, but those of you who came along with it.  With that said, I thank everyone for their support in my efforts; you all are truly amazing.  Without you, I could not have done what I did.  Honestly.  While it was tough, I would hate to imagine what it would have been like had you not been there along the way.  I can’t say enough about my wife Marcia.  As I told her, I had it easy, it was her that faced the daily rigors of life back home.  With three girls, that “combat zone” could certainly be as challenging.  Me, I just had to get dressed, stay focused, and stay mentally sharp.  I must add here, that I don’t ever recall her complaining.  Not once.  Imagine how much easier that made my life?

As I told some, I am out of synch.  Don’t know where anything is in the house, don’t know how to dress, have trouble going over 14 miles per hour.  Someone suggested I go get me a set of Garanimals.  You remember those.  Each item of clothing features a hang-tag depicting one of several anthropomorphic animal characters, also called Garanimals. The philosophy behind Garanimals is that it makes it easy for children to choose coordinated outfits by themselves (by choosing pieces with matching hang-tags).  After wearing the same outfit for the greater part of a year that requires no thought, this may be the ticket!  (Do they make them for adults?)

Hope everyone is doing well, I look forward to our next hello.

Deja Vue?  26+ years ago I was right here at Fort Dix taking my basic training.  In fact, now this is a little bit eerie, we are staying one building away from the barracks I stayed in back then.  Fort Dix was a basic training center until 1989.   Today, it is a major mobilization point for Reserves and National Guard troops. 

Some trivia for you, it is named after Major General John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and was opened in 1917.

Today, was the initial date that we were suppose to be home.   That changed when our unit’s flight out of Kuwait got pushed back 3 days.  With military flights, (even though you are flying on a commercial aircraft) it is all about priority.  If someone needs to go quicker, someone gets bumped.  Then the 10th became the new date.  Well, if you haven’t heard, New Jersey got hit with some snow this weekend.  As a result, our unit is stuck in Germany.  They were suppose to arrive here at 9:00 AM today, that has been pushed to 7:00 PM tonight.  Once they arrive, it will take 4 to 5 days to clear.   What is another couple days in the ‘big’ scheme of things?

Hope everyone is doing well!

Well, I got a chance to visit some relatives yesterday.  Actually felt like a civilian again.  My Cousin Mary and my Second Cousin Debi picked me up at Fort Dix around 8:40 AM.  They had to jump through some hoops to get on the post.  You know, they just don’t allow anyone on without full identification and proper authorization.  We finally got out of the gate and proceeded on up to Hightstown, excuse me East Windsor, New Jersey where my Aunt Margie lives.  Spent the day visiting and eating and talking, and eating some more.  Had a chance to meet Mr. Angelo Bavoso, also a resident in the neighborhood and my Aunt’s good friend.  He is amazing.  98 years young.  I am not sure I have have met someone who is so seasoned.  It was a great day!  Had a chance to talk with my Cousin Mary, Aunt Margie, and an added bonus, my Second Cousin Debi, who is Kathy’s (Aunt Margie’s oldest daughter) daughter.  I did not know she was coming.  You talk about a not seeing people for a while, 15 years for my Aunt, 27 years for my Cousin Mary, and 38 years for my Second Cousin Debi.  Way too long.  I will always remember my first visit back from this deployment, that is for sure.  A quote from the movie “Field of Dreams” comes to mind, it goes something like this, “We don’t realize the most significant moments of our lives when they are happening.”  I did yesterday!

A Chinese Parable

Maybe Good, Maybe Bad

There was once a young man who lived in a very poor village in China. But because the family owned a horse, they were considered wealthy. One day, while out for a ride, the boy stopped to rest, and his horse ran away.

On his return home, the villagers went to his father to express their sorrow for the family’s great loss. “Very bad luck!” they cried. The sage-like father shook his head and calmly said, “Maybe good. Maybe bad.”

The following day, the boy went out to hunt for the missing horse, and to his great joy found a herd of wild horses, which he was able to round up and bring back to the village. The excited villagers exclaimed, “What great fortune—your luck has returned!” The wise elder again calmly said, “Maybe good. Maybe bad.”

The next morning, while trying to tame one of the wild horses, the boy was trampled and left crippled.

The loss of a healthy son is indeed a sign of bad luck.

And when the village people saw the young man’s mangled leg, they went to the father to express their sympathy for his change in fortune. The elder man’s reply was the same: “Maybe good. Maybe bad.”

Within the week, the Chinese army marched into the village and rounded up all the able-bodied young men—to take away to war.

This parable came to mind as I wait anxiously to return to Waupun.  Here is my version:

Was assigned to the advanced party with 4 others to get things set up for the main body’s arrival.  We left approximately 5 days earlier.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Had a lot of things to take care of before they got here.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Meant spending more time at Fort Dix.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Found out yesterday their flight was pushed 3 days to the right.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Had to change dates for everything, based on their arrival.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Means spending 3 more days in New Jersey.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Gives us more down time here.  Maybe good, maybe bad.

Was able to secure a one day pass and as a result and will see my Aunt who I haven’t seen in 15 years (she came to our wedding) and my Cousin who I haven’t seen in 27 years (she came to my basic training graduation here at Fort Dix).

TOP 5 THINGS I ALREADY

DON’T MISS

1.  Having to stay up late to watch a live sporting event.
2.  Having to have an adaptor to plug anything into an outlet.  (Also, not having to have a converter for anything that needed to powered down to 100 volts.  All the Middle East’s voltage is at 240, if you plugged anything in that didn’t accept this, it would burn it out.)
3.  Sand! (To include dust.)
4.  Having to go outside to use the bathroom.
5.  Not having grass or trees!

Of course these are minor in the ‘big’ scheme of things.  But when you take away some of the things you are use to, they suddenly stand out.

Hope everyone is at the top of their game!

Thought I would throw in a quick post while I have a chance.  Arrived back in NJ today at 9:45 AM.  We left at 1:00 AM on the 26th.  Again this blows my mind.  On the clock a mere 8 hours and 45 minutes.  But of course we gained 8 hours heading West.  Made one stop in Germany then straight to MaGuire AF Base right here on Fort Dix.

Short story.  Was assigned to baggage detail.  You see, even though it was a commercial flight (757), we still have to load and unload our own baggage.  I think the baggage handlers at the airport love to see military personnel on a commercial flight.  Well, it was my ticket to a First Class seat which was well worth it.  I have never rode First Class before.  It happened to be on Continental Airlines.  I had more leg room than I ever thought was possible, the seats fully recline, movie screens for every seat which you could watch darn near anything, and plug ins for the computer.  Amazing.  I didn’t think planes had these luxuries, or let’s just say, I haven’t been a First Class passenger to ever find out.

I only have one thought right now.  Even though it is colder than heck out here, it is great to be back in the USA!