...Till the shine wears off

Dear Camp Shelby, MS:

When having quarters at 0730 is considered "sleeping in", we've gone too far.

0545 quarters one day.

0600 quarters the next.

0430 quarters the next.

0530 quarters the next.

0530 quarters the next.

0530 quarters the next.

0615 quarters the next.

See where we went wrong? Lest I've lost my ability to count, that's only one week. Considering that we must wake up about 1 hour (on the average) to load out and prepare for the day's missions, it comes as no surprise that tomorrow's 0800 quarters call is appreciated. And my training is also 100% complete.

While it can't be discussed what exactly I trained on, I can safely say that the majority of it was NOT mission critical stuff. I rest well tonight, knowing that I will not be donning my flak vest and kevlar helmet, standing in one of many of your expansive and isolated fields all day, rain dripping down my back and front, soaking me through and through.

It has been interesting, Camp Shelby. Though our relationship has been strained from the beginning, I feel as if you have taught me a lot about who I am and what I am able to tolerate. I will not miss your dreary, always-a-rainy-day feeling and overall soggyness (yes, that's right, soggyness). But the times weren't all bad. Like when we finished training early on sunny days and I just lounged around with you, counting the minutes... But overall, you will not be missed by this sailor.

I'm coming home.

Death and all of his friends

When one has time to think freely and openly, over a long enough timeline, the possibility of death peeks its head out of some distant forgotten corner of the mind. Not thoughts and contemplations of suicide, or even how one might die, but something different: One might stand with a mental Rolodex of their life's memories and rifle through them, good and bad together, as one whose life may end sooner than they think. It's not something individuals ever talk about, but I am sure that it has conceivably crossed everyone's mind.

What would my mom/wife/husband/dad do without me around?

How would they be alright/able to cope?

In what way would they remember me?

Would they feed my cat?

The old civilizations of the world celebrated the separation of life and spirit from mortal body that we know as death. They congratulated those who had ended their time on this planet and moved on to some higher level of existence. The afterlife, after all, if presented to be glorious and at least, in one way or another, an improvement on our experience here on Earth is without a doubt something to celebrate achieving. I mean, let's be honest: Death is certain. But a lot of people on our planet today are too smart for the 'afterlife' school of thought.

I have specific feelings about my life as it has evolved to this juncture in time. I value my time on Earth, and when my Father wants me back, it will happen. I love my wife and daughter, my family, my friends, my job. I love my car. Life is a wonderful thing.