Friday, March 11, 2011

Life as we know it – 9 Mar 11

Have I mentioned lately that it’s great to be home and back among the living here in the good old USA? On Valentine’s Day it was our one year anniversary of my return from Iraq. Looking back I have to ask myself “Self where has the time gone?” Why it seems like just yesterday that I was sweating like a fat kid in a sauna. Here it is thirty degrees and I’m ecstatic!

I would like to say I filed away the deployment into my life experiences file as soon as I saw my wife, family and friends. But I would be wrong; the deployment left me with a bad taste in my mouth that I’m just now getting over after over a year. I am just now placing it into my life experience file as lessons learned, and have decided not to dwell on the past instead I’m letting it go. Susan said it best when she asked me “If you had to do it over again would you have done anything different given the circumstances”. My answer after some thought was “No I would have done it all the same only different”. More often than not my wife is the voice of reason and common sense and that’s one of the many reasons why I love her.

Honestly there is no easy answer, what it comes down to is after 30 years of being a soldier you still place your soldier’s needs above your own. I may be old school (be nice) but I was always taught that the officers come up with the plan, it’s up to us the enlisted guys who are the subject matter experts to put the plan in motion. Being a senior enlisted soldier you’re responsible for the soldiers under you and around you. Our soldiers depended on us and it was up to us to drive on no matter the cost. You had to keep your game face on, support your boss all while placing the soldiers needs above your own. Kind of like driving and texting you have to be able to do many things at one time. Truth be told I lost a friend during the deployment who I think forgot somewhere along the way that he was the enlisted soldier’s first line of defense against the system. Understand I am not without blame for I have my own faults and know that it takes to two Tango.

Enough about that as the saying goes yesterday is the past, today is the present and tomorrow is the future. Our destiny is what we make it and when the day is done we can lick our wounds or say I did my best and anticipate the next day. There is a saying that I like that goes something like this. I have been shot at, misquoted, trampled on and beaten bloody. The only reason why I’m here today is to see what they are going to do next. I think this saying sums it up best “Some days you’re the dog, other days you’re the fire hydrant”.

On the bright side my car had an orgasm today! I know you’re shocked and I sense that you’re all wondering where in the world did this thought come from. It’s just I gave my car a much needed bath and discovered the beautiful white stallion that was buried under the dirt from life’s travels. And yes my hearing may be bad but I’m sure I heard my car moan in ecstasy when the foam was applied not once but twice as the winter dirt was removed. It may be my imagination but my car goes a little faster now and the car stands an inch or two taller than the other cars parked nearby.

I’m sure I’ve kept you in suspense long enough “Irving’s transplant went well”. I was nervous doing my first solo transplant and could easily relate to how a doctor must feel doing his first ever brain surgery. I procured (appropriated, acquired, relocated) new digs for Irving earlier in the week. I was nervous and tossed and turned the night before wondering if I was doing the right thing or more importantly what if something went wrong?

I put on some Barry White music to perform the transplant and extracted Irving from his cramped coffee cup. Upon inspection the soil was dry and the roots were somewhat exposed. (Note to self I should give him water on a regular basis not just when his leaves are brown). His new digs are much larger with room to grow. Not to second guess myself but maybe, just maybe some fresh dirt should have been added instead of the hardened chunks of earth that I recycled from the newer pot. Dam those insurance companies and their high rates, if only there had been affordable insurance he might have received new dirt!

I was a bit apprehensive at first and I have to admit I left him alone for the weekend. I was nervous on what I might find when I returned to the cabin. I was scared to look at him the first day, but the second day there he was all green and glowing. It’s almost as if he saw the light and was turning over a new leaf.

All is well at the Crotteau house more postings will follow. Special mention to Jacki’s as her wedding gets higher in the horizon. You’re not closing doors your opening up windows of opportunity.

That is all,

Dave