Closing out a Chapter and Opening a New One!

So the trek back was long. I have been awake with minor naps for the last 60+ hours. Lots of caffeine and thank god I finally got a shower.

When I last told you about my adventure back I was sitting in the Holding tank they call Ali Al Salem. I arrived last Tuesday and had a wonderful time sitting around waiting for the opportunity to process out. I was able to go turn in most of the gear they issued. No more bullet proof vest, helmet, etc, etc. They would not let us turn in our gas mask yet. That had to be turned into the CRC facility back in Georgia.

Finally Saturday morning came, really early too. 0300 (3 am for you civvies) I got up and showered. I gathered all my belongings and brought them to the staging area. Then began the wonderful process of customs. For security reasons I'm going to generalize and exaggerate simple because I can. I now understand what cattle feel like. I wonder if in the end they actually look forward to the bolt gun to the head. Our stuff was x-rayed, dumped out, searched, loaded up and locked away. We got put into a secure area to wait for the next bus ride to the plane. 12 hours later we finally got on a bus. Ever so often they would do a role call to make sure they haven't lost some poor soldier. A bumpy bus ride later, and a hot one at that, we arrived at the holding tank to wait for our plane. One poor troop almost lost it on the ride out. The combination of the heat, cramped seats, and the swaying of the bus got to him a bit.

The plane boss, the plane. We get on a 777. (I believe) No First class, :( Oh well. I slept a little on the first leg of the journey as we headed to Germany. We get there and I am back in the holding tank I saw on the way to Iraq last time. A few changes and actually bought some chocolate. Joy! Back on the plane and we head to that wonderful place in Bangor, Maine! I have to give them credit, we show up at the wee hours and the locals are there to thank the troops for their service. A short wait there while the plane refuels and we are on our way to Atlanta. Almost home, right?!? Nope. Another bus. Remember that gas mask they wouldn't take in Kuwait? Yeah, that one. We have to go turn it in. We ride this bus to Ft Benning. Some 97 miles away.

I'll say this, for being Easter Sunday, these people didn't slack. They had a welcoming ceremony for the troops and thanked us all. The fed us and got us moving to turn in our last few things. After that is finished we get gather in smaller groups and rent a shuttle back to Atlanta. On the road again! I reach the airport and have my flight adjusted to the next one leaving. $210 later my luggage gets to join me. At least my company paid for the flight. While I waited for my flight I stopped at a restaurant for some amazing nachos and a double Jack and Coke. It is amazing how much you can savor something you haven't had in six months.

2000 hours (8pm) I arrive in Orlando. Only 48 hours from the time I woke up to start this adventure.

Sean, Diana, Bob, Sue, and Greg all met me at the airport. Thank goodness too cause we needed all the vehicles to get my luggage home. I only had 4 things but one was a rather large trunk. We all headed over to Sean's and visited while I enjoyed a tall glass of Captain Morgan's Tattoo Rum and coke. Bliss!

One would think that I would go crawl into a bed and hibernate for a bit. Nope. A shower later and some checking of the interwebs and I was off to go watch the final night shuttle launch. I drove out to Titusville. I stopped at a Waffle House and devoured a pecan waffle and some eggs. I found a parking spot at Space Launch Park right on the water. At 3am the crowds were already massing. I found a bench and waited. Since I had spent the better part of the last two days doing this exact thing, I had become quite the master of it. (I dosed in and out till 6am) We all watched and waited until the moment you saw the puff of smoke. A bright light later and it began streaking upwards. The light was intense. I wanted to close my eyes to shield them but could not because I didn't want to miss a thing. I had my camera on movie mode and did the best I could to record it without missing it while running the camera. After what seemed like minutes we finally heard it. It was almost gone and the shock wave finally reached us. Car Alarms behind us went off as the crowd Oood and Awed. Two bright red lights could be seen as the boosters broke off. We all watched as the light darted across the sky and disappeared. An almost angelic wake formed around the light in the last few moments.

While waiting for that bus in Kuwait, I watched my final Kuwaity sunset. (I hope) After the shuttle launched I waited around and saw the US sunrise. It was picturesque. There was a sailboat in the water and the launchpad off in the distance. The sun took its time to creep over some low hanging clouds. I took several pictures, granted they will never do it justice. The vapor left behind from the launch formed a Dragon in the sky breathing fire. Just when you think wow, this is truly amazing, a school of dolphins came by as well. I cant make this stuff up people.

Coming back from Iraq I close another chapter in my life. The page ends with a sunset over brown and sand. The next chapter begins with freedom, flight, and a bright glow of the future. The rising sun greeted me today, I took it in as the marvel it is.

Did you?