Somewhere Else.
Well, I'm nearly done here in this country in which I've found myself located. It's been a long time and my experiences have been vast. Despite the obvious fact that I'm very much ready to go home, I'd say over all the experience has been a good thing, both personally and financially. I got to see places outside my own country and make a lot of money in doing so. I also bonded with individuals I would have otherwise just had very surface friendships with.
However, the near-future homecoming is going to be bittersweet to say the least. We did lose two excellent soldiers, and even if one of them wasn't so close to me, it would all still feel like a mission failure. On the chance that my normal audience reads this, I'm letting you know, I'll be so glad to be back, but I might also be a bit melancholy too.
I made the choice long, long ago that if I ever go on a deployment, no one would ever hear anything negative from me. I decided everyone would look forward to my journal entries, my instant messages, my phone calls, and my electronic letters. I didn't want to be the guy that went and had a shit-storm of problems . . . the one that populated his persona with absolute negativity at all times. I wanted to be the one that appreciated what he had.
With that, I apologize now, but I can't think of a good way to be happy about losing someone . . . so I mourn. I mourn for their families, for their friends, and for myself.
However, the near-future homecoming is going to be bittersweet to say the least. We did lose two excellent soldiers, and even if one of them wasn't so close to me, it would all still feel like a mission failure. On the chance that my normal audience reads this, I'm letting you know, I'll be so glad to be back, but I might also be a bit melancholy too.
I made the choice long, long ago that if I ever go on a deployment, no one would ever hear anything negative from me. I decided everyone would look forward to my journal entries, my instant messages, my phone calls, and my electronic letters. I didn't want to be the guy that went and had a shit-storm of problems . . . the one that populated his persona with absolute negativity at all times. I wanted to be the one that appreciated what he had.
With that, I apologize now, but I can't think of a good way to be happy about losing someone . . . so I mourn. I mourn for their families, for their friends, and for myself.