Day ONE is in the bag!

Am now back on active duty - day one is done. (well, sort of...) Today I flew down to NMPS Gulfport, MS and am getting ready for an 'action packed' week of Navy life. My flight arrangements were not the best - had only a 35 minute layover in ATLANTA and was late leaving home airport due to weather. Luckily, only had to go from 'A' to 'B' and there was a train waiting in when I walked up. Still, even though I power walked / ran, the door was shut at the gate and the dude gave me crap ('you're late' was his snotty reply). I bit my tongue - wanted to tell him that it was his friggin airplane that was late - but given the way air travel is, I would have been tasered, zip-tied, and locked up... so I was polite and they opened the door and even got the free upgrade to first class (think I had that coming anyway). However, though I made it, my bag did not. It is supposed to be arriving on a flight as I type, and they are supposed to bring it over... Being older and wiser, I packed everything I need for tomorrow in my carry on - just in case.

The last couple of days were good. Excellent weather made it very enjoyable - did a lot of stuff with the kids. Had an normal last full day home - bike rides, housework, a few last little 'honey do' list items, take-out pizza for dinner, and a quiet evening watching TV, some PS2 with the boys, and a late bedtime. Up in the morning, which was a bit rougher - hard to count down the final minutes - and the goodbye was rough. But then I drove off and now this has finally started - the dark cloud hanging over the future is here. Though the separation is going to be difficult, am thinking (hoping..?) today was the hardest part.

Final bit - my neighbors conspired a bit to show support - yesterday I noticed that good many of them had put out US flags as a show of support for me. Much of my block is retirees who do not get out much, but I think my next door neighbor, a retired surgeon, made the rounds and let people know. It was a very nice gesture - very much appreciated.