My very first post

   Listen Up!!  Here we go Here we GO!!  I've gotten the nod from the Loadie, I've stood up, hooked up, looked the Safety in the eye and told him to control my static line.  Here I go, turning towards the jumpers as they look at me with anticipation, Looking them in the eyes, clapping my hands and thrusting them forward with a LOUD and thunderous, "10 MINUTES!!!!"'  "GET READY!!!"

  

   Here it is, Feb 14th, 2009.  Valentine's Day.  THIS, a day that I will never forget.  It's funny, I've had a good life thus far and it seems that I tend to remember dates, good and bad.  I'm the WORST at remembering names and faces...two of my closest friends in the world, Jumpmaster Dave and Jumpmaster Q can attest to that....but dates? i'm on it.  I remember the 10th of Dec 2005 as the date I got back into country from Iraq.  15 Dec 2005 as my first date with my Jilly Bean, 14 Feb 2006 as the date I professed my love for Jill, 3 July 2006 as the date I dropped on one knee in Chicago, IL to ask Jill to marry me, 17 March 2007 as the date that I married the love of my life, 29 March 2008 as the day God smiled on me and placed my newborn son Brady in my arms.  Those are the good dates, the bad dates? January 4th 2009, the date that I said goodbye to my wife and two boys.  

    You know, I'm not in the least bit, bitter.  I'm extremely proud to serve my country, to answer that call yet again.  I find myself at times jealous, jealous of people out there, those that have a life, living carefree, knowing that they will be sleeping at home next to significant other, kissing their kids goodnight, planning the next upcoming weekend.  I'd be jealous for all of about 30 seconds before I remind myself that I chose this life.  I chose to be in this uniform as hard as it seems at times.  I miss my family, I miss holding my wife close, the softness of her skin, the words of love and encouragement that she is always showing me.  I miss my kids, I miss helping guide Darian through all the turmoils of being a teenager, I miss being outside with him on a sunny Saturday afternoon doing yard work.  I miss my baby boy Brady, I miss seeing all of his "Firsts", I miss his little giggle, I miss hearing him say Da Da.  I miss him so very much.  

     So back to the original topic, Feb 14th 2009.  This is the first Valentine's Day that I will be away from my Jill and God willing, hopefully my last one away from her.  At least for another 60 years.  The day was good in the least.  My Valentine's dinner was with my Alpha Team Leader, Marceau, Q, David, Kinra and our sniper section.  I'm here at Camp Atterbury Indiana, all training complete.  Only thing left to do now? wait for the flight that will carry us to Afghanistan where we will spend the rest of 2009.  Lucky us right??

     Anyways, i'm not bitter, i'm just ready to get this deployment over with so that I can enjoy all of those precious things in life such as my family.  It's funny, it's times like these that make me realize just how precious family and life really are.

I hope this finds you well.

More to follow,

GREEN LIGHT!!! GO!!!!!