Normal

Sometime in the next 18 hours I should finally be on a plane for R&R. Yes, I’m leaving now, finally leaving. Leaving for R&R. Time to go on R&R. I haven’t done anything in ten moths. I didn’t go any “morale & welfare” trips. Personal choice. Didn’t do the four-day trip to Qatar thing. Also Personal choice. But this, I very much need-- indeed. I’m already starting to feel a sense of normalcy. I’ve packed some clothes to make me look good. I’m guilty of the “dress to impress” mentality, not always, but I will dress up for the show. (Even ordered some clothes online since I didn’t bring anything like that with me).

I’ve checked out some things I want to do, but I haven’t actually planned anything. I’ll make it up as I go. A little bit of social, a little bit of adventure, and a touch of culture. That’s what I’m hoping for. Some clubs, some jumping from high altitudes and maybe a museum. That’s what I want to do. I was supposed to leave last week, but the Army has a way of poking you with a stick when you’re not expecting it. You think someone is going to unlock the cage, but instead you get poked with a stick.

The Army has poking a stick. It looks like this...

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(thanks Vonnegut).

But now I’m out of here! I almost excited about it. I don’t think it will actually set in until I hit the airport. I like airports. There are too many people, I don’t like that, but airports are busy and they are mysterious. I do like that. I like the idea of being somewhere that could take you to so many different places. No one knows where you are from and nobody knows where you are going. I like those things as well.

I think I’ll feel normal again when I get there. When I get somewhere else. It’s been so long.

~Rolligun