Mar 31 2008
Counting Days
My R&R leave is slowly approaching. I have less than 2 weeks until I fly to Kuwait and then on to Dulles. People love to talk about how quickly the time passes during this deployment. Before I came over, some mentioned how I would be home before I knew it. It doesn’t seem that a single day can go by here without someone commenting on how the days are just flying by. I just don’t see it. Now as I approach R&R, the days seem to be dragging by even more slowly!
This morning, I went to the CSH for my 4th shot in the Anthrax vaccine program. The whole program consists of 6 shots administered over a period of 18 months. After that, the program continues with annual booster shots. My next shot, #5, is due 6 months from now. At that point, God willing, I’ll be home and assigned to the Pentagon.
Last night I noticed some weeds sprouting in the gravel outside my trailer. The leaves looked like dandelion leaves. This morning, I noticed that they had bloomed. So here’s a nice picture of my private flower bed.
Not quite the beauty of the cherry blossoms, but I have to admire their tenacity to bloom in the desert.
I think this plant is a metaphor for my life. I’m not quite a beauty, but I’m still bloomin’ in the desert!
Dale,
Mugs mentioned about the slowness of the days early in your deployment and it has actually been through your blog and its time tracker that I have been able to experience a little bit of that with you both.
I pray that the Lord, who controls the sun, would speed up the days for you all during the rest of your time apart.
Blessings,
Howie
Hi Dale, My friend Darren Craven told me about this site and I’ve been visiting ever since December. I enjoy keeping up to date with how things are going out there.
I know it’s a bit cheeky, but I don’t suppose you’ve heard from him or seen him lately have you? He was meant to come back to the UK for a visit in January, but he didn’t show up and none of his friends have heard from him since. I suspect it’s nothing, but we’re a bit concerned as he isn’t responding to any calls, e-mails or text messages.
Anyway, take care out there,
Cheers!
Chris - Darren Craven isn’t in one of my offices. I haven’t met him, that I can remember! I’ve asked my guys to check with the other offices to see if anyone knows him.