Epilogue 2, August 15, 2010

I had hoped to expand upon my Aug 4 epilogue post, as there are still many more "gains" from my deployment to think about and quantify, but I think it is done for now.  Still, I wanted to let you all know that I am doing fine and give you an update.

A week has passed since the memorial for my father and I am starting to get my thinking cap back on. However, I am finding that my thoughts are split in too many directions. I wanted to spend some time reflecting on my deployment…it was so eventful and was a life changing experience. I need to spend time on Air War College…I have to test before the end of the month. I have a rewarding job I need to get back to. I need to spend time with my family, undistracted. People think I have it easy because I don’t have kids. Their wrong—I have a large extended family that rely on me just as much.

Such is life for a citizen soldier…life balance is never easy, it is just more complicated when you throw in military demands, in addition to work and family demands. I've always said that life for a citizen soldier is like sitting on a three legged stool...it takes a lot of core strength to keep everything in balance. So, it is time to prioritize and get busy.

I am taking my first of seven tests on Tuesday, then heading to North Dakota to drive with my nephew from Minot Air Force Base to Las Vegas so he can start school at UNLV using his hard earned GI Bill. He completes his active duty tour on August 19, so naturally, I hope to recruit him into the Nevada Air National Guard during this trip :) My husband will meet me in Vegas and we will spend a few days at the Venetian relaxing by the pool, where my neice works as a pool side attendant...I think we'll need lots of towels, water, and fruit, in separate trips, of course. She is also a student at UNLV and she made the reservations for us...I think she made them for days that she doesn't work...she is pretty clever that way. We come home in time for me to test again, if needed (God forbid), then off to Burning Man! We are taking another of my neices with us to Burning Man, and it will be wonderful seeing everything through her eyes. Finally, I'll be back to work around September 15.

Thanks again for your thoughts and support, for your support of our nation's military and especially our citizen soldiers.