Road back to Baghdad
Just wanted to let everyone know I have started the lengthy process of returning to Iraq. With travel stretching across two days, taking things in steps is really the best way for me to get through the process.
Step 1 is hardest particularly because it involves saying good-bye to Tom and getting mentally ready for the separation and returning to Iraq. Step 1 ends when I make it to D.C. Step 2 is my 12+ hour flight to Kuwait (fortunately traveling east is faster...my flight home on the 17th was 14 hours long) and then getting transportation to the air base. Step 3 is probably an over night in Kuwait and hopefully a flight into Baghdad the next day. Then once I get to Baghdad I still have to get transportation across town to the IZ...Step 4.
My time home went by extremely fast. I took it easy and spent a lot of time at the house. It is the first time I've had this much time off and been home. Usually when I take leave it is because I'm traveling somewhere or there is something we are doing. I had no special plans except attending a women's retreat my first weekend home. Other than that I got to spend time with Tom and visit with some friends.
I feel like this experience of taking an R&R during a deployment has given me greater appreciation for what it's like for our military service members. Going home and then having to leave again is not easy. My first deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005 was a little over 4 months long...so there was no leave or time off. The Army Corps of Engineers offers its civilian employees serving in Iraq the opportunity to take a 15-day R&R when they are on a 6 month deployment, which is what I'm doing. I recognize how lucky I am t0o, getting an R&R at all because the military service members in Iraq on 6 month deployments do not get leave. They get an R&R if they are doing a year deployment.
Things will be different when I get back as DeDe, my boss for the last 4 months, has redeployed. Carolyn, the new chief of Public Affairs, arrived just two days before I went on leave. She had quite the introduction to our office. She arrived the day of the St. Patrick's Day parade and was a good sport about participating in the festivities. You'll see her riding behind DeDe in our float photos. The post I did before going on leave. The day following the parade we had a farewell party for DeDe, Doug and Belinda...three of my battle buddies. So Carolyn must think all we do is party! It will be strange going back and not having many of my favorite people around, but I can already tell I'm going to enjoy working with Carolyn.
When I get back to Iraq I'll have 10 weeks left before redeploying for good. I'm looking forward to getting some good stuff done during my remaining time in Iraq. I'm timing my return home with Maxwell's graduation from high school, which is June 16. I hope you'll continue to follow my journey in the cradle of civilization. Part two is about to begin.
Step 1 is hardest particularly because it involves saying good-bye to Tom and getting mentally ready for the separation and returning to Iraq. Step 1 ends when I make it to D.C. Step 2 is my 12+ hour flight to Kuwait (fortunately traveling east is faster...my flight home on the 17th was 14 hours long) and then getting transportation to the air base. Step 3 is probably an over night in Kuwait and hopefully a flight into Baghdad the next day. Then once I get to Baghdad I still have to get transportation across town to the IZ...Step 4.
My time home went by extremely fast. I took it easy and spent a lot of time at the house. It is the first time I've had this much time off and been home. Usually when I take leave it is because I'm traveling somewhere or there is something we are doing. I had no special plans except attending a women's retreat my first weekend home. Other than that I got to spend time with Tom and visit with some friends.
I feel like this experience of taking an R&R during a deployment has given me greater appreciation for what it's like for our military service members. Going home and then having to leave again is not easy. My first deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005 was a little over 4 months long...so there was no leave or time off. The Army Corps of Engineers offers its civilian employees serving in Iraq the opportunity to take a 15-day R&R when they are on a 6 month deployment, which is what I'm doing. I recognize how lucky I am t0o, getting an R&R at all because the military service members in Iraq on 6 month deployments do not get leave. They get an R&R if they are doing a year deployment.
Things will be different when I get back as DeDe, my boss for the last 4 months, has redeployed. Carolyn, the new chief of Public Affairs, arrived just two days before I went on leave. She had quite the introduction to our office. She arrived the day of the St. Patrick's Day parade and was a good sport about participating in the festivities. You'll see her riding behind DeDe in our float photos. The post I did before going on leave. The day following the parade we had a farewell party for DeDe, Doug and Belinda...three of my battle buddies. So Carolyn must think all we do is party! It will be strange going back and not having many of my favorite people around, but I can already tell I'm going to enjoy working with Carolyn.
When I get back to Iraq I'll have 10 weeks left before redeploying for good. I'm looking forward to getting some good stuff done during my remaining time in Iraq. I'm timing my return home with Maxwell's graduation from high school, which is June 16. I hope you'll continue to follow my journey in the cradle of civilization. Part two is about to begin.
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