Full Circle

I am now within a week from going home, I think. These past two weeks at Ft Carson have been pretty slow but I was able to spend three days with Liz and Jacob. It has been nice transitioning back into normal life to the extent that I can. I know that you always come home physically before you come home mentally and I realize that it will all take time. Liz and Jacob and I went to the Cheyenne Mnt Zoo as well as a drive around Pikes Peak. Interestingly, when they came out to visit me at Ft Lewis, 11 months ago we visited Pikes Place Fish Market. Not sure what it is with the name "Pike" but it seems like a recurring theme. My second tour in Iraq is now all but over and as I reflect back, it seems like I have been gone forever. Including the train up, this tour took me from California's Wine Country, to Denver, to Seattle, to Maine, to Germany (three times), to Kuwait (four times), all over Iraq to include: Baghdad, Taji, Balad, Baqubah, Ar Ramadi, Fallujah, and others, to Ireland, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and finally back to Colorado Springs. I cannot wait to be a civilian again and sincerely hope that I never have to go through this a third time. Words can't describe how challenging this experience has been for me and my family and I know that at some point I have the potential to be a better person because of it. It just doesn't feel that way now. I am expecting to see the rest of our unit over the next two to three days and will be headed home about five days after they arrive. Thanks to everyone who has sent email, care packages and other words of encouragement to me over the past year. I will never forget your support.