It’s finally here – my last day in theater! Yesterday I said goodbye to all of the folks who’ve been on this journey with me since my initial training in Norfolk back last July. Right now they should be somewhere over Europe after a refueling stop in Germany. Like I’ve said earlier, in some ways it sure would have been nice to be on that plane instead of writing this post here still in Kuwait, but last night as I was getting a sound night’s sleep while they were going through their last agonizingly slow Army processing, I imagine more than one would have changed places with me. I suppose it’s a “grass is always greener…” thing. Regardless, after dinner tonight I’ll be taken to the airport where I’ll fly like a normal person on a regular airline. And through the magic of jet travel, I will be home by early afternoon tomorrow.
Part of the intentional down time built in to this out-processing is to let us transition from “adrenaline life” to “normal life.” I think the Navy overestimated how much adrenaline we’ve been living on but the model they use is Vietnam where Soldiers were transitioning from the jungle to the dinner table in 48 hours. When I think back to my grandfather (WW I) and uncle (WW 2), that sort of transition wasn’t necessary because they had at least a two-week ocean voyage just to get back to America. Only because of jet travel do we intentionally have to build in a transition from a wartime environment to a peacetime environment. Anyway, I found that interesting to think about this week. It’s not like I had a whole lot else to do!
Anyway, today is my 281st day in theater (my orders were for 280 – I get a bonus day – joy!) and thankfully my last. I have a few more posts left in me to wrap things up but “Pearl in the Desert” is winding down. I want to thank all of you who have read, supported, and prayed for me and all of us over here. Every bit has been warmly felt and appreciated more than I can adequately express. God bless you all and especially those still in harm’s way.
Cheers, Pearl
