I'm late with writing this, I know. But last week, I truly had the best night ever.
My cousin came home from Iraq, and his boys and I went out to this...well, frankly, it was the worst bar I've been to in ages, but that's besides the point.
He's only a couple of years older than I am, and we've never really been close. I hadn't seen him for almost a year before he was flown out. In the meantime, he's gotten married and has a stepson, and I went away to college. We never talked, but something changed that night.
For the first time, I feel like I really connected with him, and he's not just my cousin, but a good friend. We talked about our families, and Iraq, and the insanity of our mothers :-), and the media, and everything in between. We all spent the evening drinking, talking, and goofing off... I heard more Iraq stories than I wanted...and there's really nothing as amusing as a bunch of soldiers trying to ride a mechanical bull. Afterwards, I took them back to the base and said goodbye.
And then I let out the deep breath I'd been holding ever since he was deployed.
Funny how life changes, and in turn changes you.
I won't say your name, but if you're reading this...
Welcome Home. I love you. And I can't wait to meet your new family.
Please, let's not lose touch again. Alright?
Friday, September 16, 2005
Homecoming
I'm late with writing this, I know. But last week, I truly had the best night ever.
My cousin came home from Iraq, and his boys and I went out to this...well, frankly, it was the worst bar I've been to in ages, but that's besides the point.
He's only a couple of years older than I am, and we've never really been close. I hadn't seen him for almost a year before he was flown out. In the meantime, he's gotten married and has a stepson, and I went away to college. We never talked, but something changed that night.
For the first time, I feel like I really connected with him, and he's not just my cousin, but a good friend. We talked about our families, and Iraq, and the insanity of our mothers :-), and the media, and everything in between. We all spent the evening drinking, talking, and goofing off... I heard more Iraq stories than I wanted...and there's really nothing as amusing as a bunch of soldiers trying to ride a mechanical bull. Afterwards, I took them back to the base and said goodbye.
And then I let out the deep breath I'd been holding ever since he was deployed.
Funny how life changes, and in turn changes you.
I won't say your name, but if you're reading this...
Welcome Home. I love you. And I can't wait to meet your new family.
Please, let's not lose touch again. Alright?
My cousin came home from Iraq, and his boys and I went out to this...well, frankly, it was the worst bar I've been to in ages, but that's besides the point.
He's only a couple of years older than I am, and we've never really been close. I hadn't seen him for almost a year before he was flown out. In the meantime, he's gotten married and has a stepson, and I went away to college. We never talked, but something changed that night.
For the first time, I feel like I really connected with him, and he's not just my cousin, but a good friend. We talked about our families, and Iraq, and the insanity of our mothers :-), and the media, and everything in between. We all spent the evening drinking, talking, and goofing off... I heard more Iraq stories than I wanted...and there's really nothing as amusing as a bunch of soldiers trying to ride a mechanical bull. Afterwards, I took them back to the base and said goodbye.
And then I let out the deep breath I'd been holding ever since he was deployed.
Funny how life changes, and in turn changes you.
I won't say your name, but if you're reading this...
Welcome Home. I love you. And I can't wait to meet your new family.
Please, let's not lose touch again. Alright?
Friday, September 9, 2005
Finally.
Well, I’m back.
In the past two months, I’ve stood on the banks of the Suwannee River, stood in the same places Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered famous speeches, drank bourbon on Bourbon Street, toured Johnson Space Center, gotten very VERY lost in the horrible state of Texas (err, that has more to do with family than the actual state…), toured bat caverns and grottos by candlelight, seen the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon, chased aliens in Roswell, searched for Area 51 (obviously, did not find it), played in the White Sands, lost money in Las Vegas, nearly lost my life to a rattlesnake in New Mexico, ran out of gas in the Mojave Desert (yes…dangerous, I know), gotten kisses from a Blue Man, gotten sunburned in Death Valley (118 deg heat is no joke, man!), and overdrew my bank account six times.
No, really, I’m serious.
I just camped my way across the country, from Florida to Washington.
For everyone who I lost track of along the way, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize exactly how few places outside of major cities actually have cellular service. I think I gave Spencer a heart attack once or twice (sorry!) because of that. Anyhow, this is my official notice that I’m officially living the Washingtonian lifestyle once again.
But, dang, it’s cold up here. Could my Florida peoples please send me some sunshine?
Peace.
In the past two months, I’ve stood on the banks of the Suwannee River, stood in the same places Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered famous speeches, drank bourbon on Bourbon Street, toured Johnson Space Center, gotten very VERY lost in the horrible state of Texas (err, that has more to do with family than the actual state…), toured bat caverns and grottos by candlelight, seen the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon, chased aliens in Roswell, searched for Area 51 (obviously, did not find it), played in the White Sands, lost money in Las Vegas, nearly lost my life to a rattlesnake in New Mexico, ran out of gas in the Mojave Desert (yes…dangerous, I know), gotten kisses from a Blue Man, gotten sunburned in Death Valley (118 deg heat is no joke, man!), and overdrew my bank account six times.
No, really, I’m serious.
I just camped my way across the country, from Florida to Washington.
For everyone who I lost track of along the way, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize exactly how few places outside of major cities actually have cellular service. I think I gave Spencer a heart attack once or twice (sorry!) because of that. Anyhow, this is my official notice that I’m officially living the Washingtonian lifestyle once again.
But, dang, it’s cold up here. Could my Florida peoples please send me some sunshine?
Peace.
Finally.
Well, I’m back.
In the past two months, I’ve stood on the banks of the Suwannee River, stood in the same places Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered famous speeches, drank bourbon on Bourbon Street, toured Johnson Space Center, gotten very VERY lost in the horrible state of Texas (err, that has more to do with family than the actual state…), toured bat caverns and grottos by candlelight, seen the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon, chased aliens in Roswell, searched for Area 51 (obviously, did not find it), played in the White Sands, lost money in Las Vegas, nearly lost my life to a rattlesnake in New Mexico, ran out of gas in the Mojave Desert (yes…dangerous, I know), gotten kisses from a Blue Man, gotten sunburned in Death Valley (118 deg heat is no joke, man!), and overdrew my bank account six times.
No, really, I’m serious.
I just camped my way across the country, from Florida to Washington.
For everyone who I lost track of along the way, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize exactly how few places outside of major cities actually have cellular service. I think I gave Spencer a heart attack once or twice (sorry!) because of that. Anyhow, this is my official notice that I’m officially living the Washingtonian lifestyle once again.
But, dang, it’s cold up here. Could my Florida peoples please send me some sunshine?
Peace.
In the past two months, I’ve stood on the banks of the Suwannee River, stood in the same places Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered famous speeches, drank bourbon on Bourbon Street, toured Johnson Space Center, gotten very VERY lost in the horrible state of Texas (err, that has more to do with family than the actual state…), toured bat caverns and grottos by candlelight, seen the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and the Grand Canyon, chased aliens in Roswell, searched for Area 51 (obviously, did not find it), played in the White Sands, lost money in Las Vegas, nearly lost my life to a rattlesnake in New Mexico, ran out of gas in the Mojave Desert (yes…dangerous, I know), gotten kisses from a Blue Man, gotten sunburned in Death Valley (118 deg heat is no joke, man!), and overdrew my bank account six times.
No, really, I’m serious.
I just camped my way across the country, from Florida to Washington.
For everyone who I lost track of along the way, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize exactly how few places outside of major cities actually have cellular service. I think I gave Spencer a heart attack once or twice (sorry!) because of that. Anyhow, this is my official notice that I’m officially living the Washingtonian lifestyle once again.
But, dang, it’s cold up here. Could my Florida peoples please send me some sunshine?
Peace.
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