Anyway, the good news is I'm leaving Iraq for good. I've spent the previous week packing boxes to ship home and I sent the last one off this morning - a large footlocker-sized box with a bunch of stuff I've accumulated over the last 10 months. I live a pretty simple lifestyle and still I managed to mail a bunch of things home so I wouldn't have to haul it back as luggage. But, I'm now down to a couple of bags of Army stuff to turn in and be finished with and just one seabag for my stuff plus my carry-on backpack and computer. The room feels pretty spartan now and a little empty.
Which finally brings me to my point - I'm having a hard time getting 100% excited about leaving here. Oh sure, I'm quite happy and thrilled to be heading back home to see my family again - absolutely! But, the past couple of days have been hard leaving folks who will continue to fight this fight for another six months. I've never left a deployment early before and when I say good-bye to the people I've become close friends with here, it will be the last time I see them, likely forever. Unlike in the Navy where there is a possibility of being stationed together again or at least passing somewhere, the Soldiers of 2SCR are on a completely different path than I have. So, it is with very mixed emotions that I anticipate my flight tomorrow and yet feel a pull to spend a little more time here in the company of heroes.
I know my feelings of heartache will pass - they did when I left home to come out here last July and will again. And I will be left with fond memories of serving with great people in a terrible place. But tonight, there's a little sadness mixed in my joy.
Cheers, Pearl
