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One day and one half...

I just woke up in my hotel room after a night of fun and good times with my wife at 4th Street Live. I glanced out the window, and realized that I was facing the sullen reality that I have today and tomorrow on leave, and that Tuesday means the end of my contact with my family for a great while. I have approached this time on leave with the solid intent of not concentrating on how much time I had left, but rather the quality of the time that I was using. Somehow, it just didn't work like I thought that it would.

I have noted that these past two weeks have flown by, much quicker than any other two weeks that I have experienced in my life. If deployment were to go like this, the time wouldn't seem so unbearable. But, nonetheless I suppose that I need to get myself prepared for the inevitable. The reality is that my oldest son Devon who just finished the seventh grade will be starting his Freshman year of High School once I get back. Robbie who just finished second grade will be in the fourth, and Alexandra who is a daycare toddler will be in kindergarten.

I will miss my wife's birthday this year, all of the kids birthdays, my wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Kind of sobering..... All of that will be difficult, living and working in a dangerous area is going to be difficult, but there is nothing that will be more difficult than walking out my front door. Crossing my threshold knowing that I will not darken the doorstep for over a year is going to be tough. Letting go of that last hug with my children, or finishing that last kiss with my wife will be difficult. Tuesday morning will be the day I dread to wake up.

Comments

Anonymous said…
You brought tears to my eyes. Will you be able to keep us posted how you're doing in Iraq?
I hope so...I'll keep checking.
Anonymous said…
DKelSmith,
First of all, I would like to Thank You for your service to this great country. If it wasn't for MEN like you, I wouldn't have been able to throw a slab of beef on the grill today while listening to the Padre Game. There are many more of us who appreciate what you do, than the naive/ignorant that don't! GOD BLESS YOU!
Anonymous said…
I will be thinking of you on Tuesday.

Hope you keep in touch.
Anonymous said…
All I can think to say is thank you, and that you and your family are in our hearts and thoughts. We sure appreciate the work that you do!
Keep in touch if you can, we'll send treats :)
Anonymous said…
I can only imagine what it takes inside to do what you do, but your description brought it home for me. Thank you for your sacrifices. Good luck and God speed.
Anonymous said…
Repugnant. Repulsive. Saddening. But Vicki said it best: sickening.

It's amazing how people can twist religion to suit their personal agendas.

People like those who produced this horrendous video, like those who make and hold those offensive placards, are a direct result of the destruction of American values brought about by multiculturalism. In this warped worldview, since all cultures and societies are "equal," our own culture is nothing special. Why be patriotic if your own country is no better than any other?

The next step on this slide into the abyss is the demonization and denigration of our culture because it "holds back" and "represses" the Other. The Other means all those who are not part of the majority, not part of our culture. The more foreign and less-assimilable the Other is, the better.

Finally, we peer into the depths of hell through the eyes of those who actually hate their own country.

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