Almost There...

This morning, after dropping Jericho off at "playschool" and checking the mail, I went back to the car to open the package that had arrived. It was his backpack I'd ordered for him to take to school with him. I sat in the car slowly enjoying my coffee - if the bitter mud slush that Burger King makes can pass as coffee - and just watched everything going on around me, when one single thing caught my eye.

A soldier.

Yes, I was on a military post. Yes, there are soldiers all around me here. But this guy was sitting at the bottom of an outside stairwell, flipping through a magazine, and that's when it hit me.

Our guys will be home soon. Just around the corner, those early mornings on Post, watching groups of grey and black PT uniforms move in unison to chants that can be heard from any direction. High school football games. Chilly weather and steamy breath. War stories, hearing soldiers catch up on who was stationed where and their choice of destination for block leave. Soldiers hanging out at 1645, waiting to be released for the day, reading magazines, goofing off until final formation.

Families feeling whole again.

A general sense of happiness and relief.

Still waiting. Not much longer now.