The Story So Far, Once Again

I'm back in Oklahoma. How exciting. It continues to be hot and the generally depressing ghetto that it's always been. I'm still feeling in limbo, despite having gotten past the inertia of not being married and stuck in a non-deploying unit. I think it's this place, where we seem to spend a lot of time waiting for things to happen. It seems that the world has moved on past this town, and yet the town still remains. Will I be complaining in Afghanistan? I don't know, I kind of doubt it. I'm tending to think it's just that Lawton is not a good match for me. But not for much longer, it would seem.

At any rate, it'll be a step towards going home to Tabatha, which has been far and away the hardest part of the past month. That wedding ring on my hand serves as a constant reminder of why I need to get home in one piece, but also how far away home seems to be. This was one of the definite cons in the debate over whether to reenlist, that I'll be away from home on a fairly regular basis, or failing that, will be stuck behind a desk dealing with the awesome power of the Army bureacracy every day. But on the other hand, it's a paycheck. The latest I've heard is that the Army was considering going from a pension to a 401K plan, or whatever the federal equivalent is. Operant word being considering, which leads me to not trust the Army Times- it seems any rumor they hear gets printed as if it's gospel truth. Whether this is just a lack of follow-through or to sell more papers, I don't know, but now tend to avoid it. Things change a hundred times over as the powers that be try to reach a consensus (isn't that what we have orders for?), and what you finally end up with is much different than when you started.

But at any rate, here I am, missing my family, and stuck in Oklahoma, where nothing much continues to happen. Tabatha told me earlier on that though we've done a great deal and come a long way, my fight has just begun. This struck me as odd, but makes a good deal of sense. I know there's a bit more down the road to go through, but that whatever else happens, I know I'll get home safe. Actually, I'm almost eager to get going, as it'll be a step forwards. I've spent far too much time waiting around already- one could point out that most of that was my own doing, but still. I figure it's not so much a fight as it is get through what's ahead. It almost feels like a given, pre-ordained, or something like that- I come back home, safe and sound, then things go from there. Where, I don't know yet, but will hopefully find out soon enough. Further details to come, I guess.