A season for small miracles

I flew home 4 days ago. Some things I think about from that day still give me goosebumps. The generosity I see from people is truly astounding to me. They open there arms to people they have never before laid eyes on and they do everything within there power to make just one part of someone's day just that much easier. I guess I don't just mean "someone." I mean a soldier in particular. [The picture to the left is of me and my friend bentley after she had dropped me off at the airport in tuscon. click on it for better quality]

That was one of the big deals with flying home. We HAD to wear our uniform. Believe me.... that was the last thing I wanted. I've said before that I feel slightly uncomfortable wearing my uniform in public because of the unwanted attention. I mean yeah it's flattering, but there are other soldiers who have sacrficed alot more and deserve that recognition more than I do. Anyways... Besides the lack of desire to wear it home, I was also focused on the comfort factor. Wearing my sweat pants and a sweat shirt are much more conducive to a sleep enviroment then a stiff uniform.

But that uniform got me places on my way home. People were MUCH more likely to lend a helping hand as I struggled with my suitcase. They were more likely to clear a path in a busy and crowded area. Most of all, it afforded me the luxury of riding first class... along with 7 other soldiers in uniform.

However, there was one lone soldier who ended up in economy. Generally, not a bad ratio. 7 upgrades to 1 stuck in the back. Soldier don't really see it that way. No man is left behind, or in this case left in economy by themselves while there battle buddies enjoy the comforts of first class. A couple of us offered to go back there with him so he wasn't back there by himself. Almost instantly the first class cabin was filled with protests from civilian first class passengers. THEY would give up one of their seats so that no soldier was left behind. It was an amazing thing to watch. That's all I really have to say... other than the fact that I am thoroughly enjoying being home on break =]

Things I saw that I wish I hadn't

Ok. This is probably the most disturbing thing that has happened since I’ve been here. And I mean THE. First of all, let me just start off my saying that my internet capability expectations while I am here have failed… which is why I haven’t been blogging. Come January I should be able to access the internet every night. Now that’s cleared up… I can go on.

Before we could leave for exodus we had to have this day long briefing, which we like to call death by PowerPoint. Basically, the brief just reiterated the fact that there will indeed be a urine analysis upon our return… after every single slide show. There were a lot of slide shows, some more snooze worthy than others. And others, as I had mentioned, were just downright disturbing.

This is how it all started, and where I wish it had ended or rather never began. A small lady… not more than 120 pounds and probably 5’4” on her tiptoes came out. She had to have been older than Harry. I expected a sweet greeting and maybe she would tell us about adopt a soldier, a program for soldiers who can’t afford to go home for the holidays and families from the area adopt. What followed will probably horrify me for a while.

A slide popped up that said “if condoms had sponsors.” I’ll attach a picture. At first, it seemed pretty funny. And then the real talk began. It wasn’t a no glove no love talk. It was an std talk, that with the help of some very, very vivid pictures… painted quite a pretty image.

I saw more diseased male genetalia than I had ever hoped to see. And I learned more than the public school system would have ever cared to teach me. (by the way… did you know that on an average day, you will shake hands with 6 men who have recently been doing something else with their hands? Or that you will shake hands with 11 women who have just done the same? Or that you indirectly come into contact with 15 penises? I didn’t. I wish I still didn’t. Upon finding this out, the males around me proceeded to shake hands with everyone that was within reach.)

I won’t continue to go on. No amount of explanation can really make you guys understand just how weird and disturbing this presentation was.