The More Things Change

How long has it been? Less than 10 months, apparently, as Tabatha is listed as a follower on this blog- (my experience has been she's just as good as a leader, too, but that's another story). I was actually surprised to find this still up and running, gathering dust out there. Now it's another time, another place, another life. What has happened between now and then?

Perhaps first and foremost, things have changed career-wise. It's been a while, actually at least 4 months. Basic training has come and gone, as has AIT. If I knew then what I know now, I would have joined up a lot sooner. It's going well, and my current assignment is the 214th Field Artillery Regiment, 696th Forward Support Co. Basically, we get it where it needs to be when it needs to be there. As of late, there hasn't been much that needs to be anywhere, so we've been kind of at loose ends. But as of now, I'm back in CT on leave to get my affairs back in order and ship back to Lawton, OK. (214th is based in Fort Sill, like most of the field artillery divisions.) But I won't be going back alone- Tabatha has agreed to do me the great honor of accompanying me down there, where in time we'll be married. But that's what will change this bizarre little military town to a home- not the endless churches and liquor stores, not the odd people I work with, although these things will definitely help as well. The time I've spent has been a great adventure, with the promise of more to come. For the first time I know I'm out there without a safety net- no one has my back, there's nowhere to run to and nowhere to turn to. So this just continues what I already found out- you can do what needs to be done. Would I have believed I could make it through basic? Would I have believed I could survive everything the Army could throw at me and come out with flying colors? No, I would never have believed it. Which is good, because it relies on actions, not beliefs. But as time goes on, I find that I don't need to sit around worrying and endlessly speculating about what could be, what will work and what won't. Just do it already!

And it feels... cool. To be out there, in the wilds of Lawton, pretty much holding my own life and future in my hands. I could self- destruct, I could go on to lead a long and glorious career, and the only way this happens is by my own hands. But then again, no man is an island, least of all me. I know full well that I can do what needs to be done- that's not what's so cool. The fact is that I can build a new life, make it what I want; create the world I want to live in. And take everyone else with me.