Day 203

It was a rough day in Kabul today. If you haven't seen the news yet, a suicide bomber in a vehicle hit one of our convoys and killed at least 13 Americans. Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan and about a 15min helo ride south of where I was. I have friends there and luckily, have heard from all of them. The loaded suicide vehicles are not uncommon for charging entry points at bases are uncommon to ram a convoy. To take that many lives in a convoy, the blast had to be significant as most of our armored vehicles don't hold that many people. Please keep the families in your prayers who most likely, just had two uniformed service-members knock on their door and deliver the most feared news.

Back here in Kuwait, this morning stayed busy. It started at 8am with another travel brief, but specific to the place we are headed for out-processing Stateside. I had a feeling that most would be heading to Norfolk and San Diego as those are big Navy hubs in the world. I was right. There are only 6 or 7 of us heading to my location in Mississippi. That's a great thing! Less folks to process through = more efficiency in pushing us through. During that brief, I met another Navy reservist who also is from my area, is going to the same processing site, and is flying back to the same airport! RATS! I'm not going to get that plane to myself on the final trip home! The funny part? His first name is the same as mine! So, I'll be sure to forewarn him that there may be signs or shouts where he may think someone is shouting out for him! Funny, eh?! He's a young guy and I think, only him mom and dad will be there to pick him up. I tell ya...what are the chances of THIS happening?! Flippin' hilarious, I tell ya!

After that travel brief, we had our one workshop, mandated by the Chief of Naval Operations. There was about 8 of us...all Navy officers of almost the same rank. The conversations rotated around reintegration, coping with stress, our different experiences while deployed, and expectations when we arrive home. It's true...I have a picture in my mind what homecoming will be like on that day and the days and weeks following. So does Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. I guess we all just need to communicate and work together. We also talked about the cheers and thank-you's that we'll hear and how that makes us feel. Like the others, it feels "weird" and undeserving. To me, the "heroes" are on the frontlines and the ultimate heroes have sacrificed their lives. But, since less than half of 1% of our country is serving right now (yes, 0.45% of the U.S. population is in uniform), I can see how folks do show their appreciation to anyone in uniform and I/we do appreciate it! We just don't know how to react because we simply don't feel like we deserve it. Make sense? So please, show your appreciation and never stop...it is appreciated but just know, we really have no idea how to respond. Me? I usually just shake your hand, smile and nod my head. Doesn't feel right to say "You're welcome." Anyway, it was good to share with others and listen to what the others had to say.

For the rest of the day, it was relaxing and watching a few flicks. Tonight, I'm doing another load of laundry and getting myself squared away for my eventual departure. One last travel brief is coming up tomorrow morning where we'll bring all of our luggage in to have it weighed. They need the cumulative weight of every person and gear to properly load the jet out of here. So with that, friends, Day 203 is a wrap. Onward to 204...

Oops...."Happy Birthday, Dorothy. I hope you enjoyed your short and sweet "Happy Birthday" video I sent you this morning. I hope you had a wonderful day!"

Goodnight, everyone.