Remember when.....

....everyday was sunny and 80 degrees?
....I blew my nose and brown sandy crap was all I got out?
....watching CNN was sufficient enough entertainment for me?
....in order to talk to my wife and kids, I had to wait until after dinner?
....I lived by a PALACE?
....time was spent being stunned by revolting explosions in the distance?
....Saddam Hussiens trial wasn't just a story on the news to me?
....all I did was try to make it through the day to make it one less?
....I could work in an office and cut the tension with a machette?
....I walked a mile to go to bed?
....the worst quality copy of "Wedding Crashers" was AWESOME?

Well, it seems like only months ago I was in PARADISE, in fact, it WAS months ago, but I can truly say that TONS gets forgotten, but what I DO remember I don't miss. I do miss the weather, but spring is right around the corner(kind of), and well I do miss the bantering of the American political sides about the war NOT being heard. I enjoyed being able to tell people that THOUGHT they knew what the soldiers thought back in the safe confines of the US, to get a clue. I have had a pretty decent reintagration, and think what got me through is SUPPORT, and family and friends saying thanks, or even strangers telling me that. No matter if I thought it was not that big of a deal, those things are gratifiying.
I am so glad to have been able to support the country in a military manner like so many others have in the past and our doing so now, and I am also glad to be home.
I am so glad to be able to kiss my kids at night, and lay in bed with my wife whether I say anything or not.
The reason I bring these things up is that when I am looking at some of the older pics from Iraq, I remember that I was so stressed that I had lost a lot of them, and I thought looking at the pics would make me miss it 1 little bit, but I don't. I miss some of the people, but it isn't like I want to have a reunion or anything. Maybe someday that will change, and I miss working with some of the NC people the most but hey, not that much.
Now that I am home I have realised that I turn the other cheek a lot more. I thought I would really be able to come home and stick it to whatever casue I disagreed with, but you know, I have come to see that there are crappy humans, with a disregard for whatever is in their way, and they will go on and some will succeed and some will fail. I , however, will just do it the right way. Whatever that is, the best way for the greater good. NOT for my paycheck, or for short term domination, satisfaction, or pleasure. Our country on a whole, to me, is selfish, and we think were the greatest. I mean, we are the greatest, but not always RIGHT.
I am rambling now, but I just was writing!
Later,
Erik