Tough life.

It’s a hot afternoon. One hundred and twenty something and I’m soaked to death from a previous mission.  I have to admit I didn’t worry about traffic during rush hour (hummers prevent that) nor did I worry about what to wear….it was pretty determined for the next oh, 7 months.

Now, as I drive the streets of Washington DC, I wonder how some of these people got their drivers license. I guess I will chalk it up to one other thing I will get use to again. The sight of green grass, bushes and the feel of rain. It’s been rainy here lately and I finished a nice cigar standing outside as it began to sprinkle and the pour. The neighbors thought “what is that nut job doing?” but if you go a year or so without seeing clouds or rain, then you begin to understand.

As Dirt people, your skin was tattooed with the dirt from the area.  Crow feet on the corners of 20 year old Marines eyes and characters to match. Talking with them now after our return I laugh as we all share the same opinions of the states and how people take it for granted. The same feelings I had after every other deployment.

With everything going on in our world these days, remember, yes congress is getting a self alignment, banks are scared to loan, but know that that steely eyed warrior out in northern Iraq is ready to keep the wolf at bay.

You have running water, you probably had a starbucks this morning and your paper is still in your driveway for the love of god. You will have a good dinner tonight and after watching the biggest looser or some other feel good show you will hit your rack and get a solid 8hrs of rest.

Tough life.

Although the week is almost over, remember it can always be worse……so stop your bitching and kick some ass. Have you really made a difference this week? If you haven’t, shame on you. If you have, then you can look at your self in that 100watt lit up bathroom mirror that your Mrs loves and say, I can do better.

Tough times don’t last, tough people do!

Comments

[anon]

Good post.

[Mom2corps]

I made a difference today - I sent a book to a Vietnam Marine I've only met on email. Just a token of my appreciation for his service. I can never thank all the Marines out there, but I'll thank the ones I can. Thank you, Major.

[Krewe Captain]

Thanks for your timely post, Major. Enjoyed chatting online last sunday on AS. I think I made a difference this week......8 boxes of halloween fun to Iraq...

[Milmom]

Great post. I'm hoping to make a difference...setting up a yard sale to benefit the Fisher House being built at Jefferson Barracks. Gotta go, gotta get my Halloween boxes to Iraq, too! Take care

[RangersGirl]

Great reality check post! There are soooo many things we take for granted, especially here in the DC area where it seems like your worth is measured by how powerful you are and how much stuff you have.

Glad you enjoyed the rain.

[Earl]

Yeah, I needed that kick in my butt, time to clean the M1 Garand up and get prepared to fire some of those eight hundred and forty-two round up in joyous freedom of fact. They just won't let me loose anymore, will have to remember what it was like on the edge of freedom's frontiers... funny things happened when I was away - what do they mean no guns in school, how you going hunting after class?