Five Years Ago Today

It was Shock and Awe. I think it still is.

The Wounded

The Wounded but ambulatory stay in one place. We had a meeting in that building yesterday and were waiting in the lobby for the Boss Lady to arrive. A soldier on crutches came out of the elevator pusing one of those luggage things you see at hotels. No idea what it's called- a cart? A luggage cart? Anyway, he found it cumbersome to push and walk on crutches at the same time. I jumped up and pushed the cart with his duffle on it out to the street where the cab lady helped me move his things into the car. I told him "I have been on crutches so I got ya." He thanked me ma'am several times and I told him it was my pleasure.

But then I began to second guess myself. He is a young soldier-wonder if it made him feel bad for a relatively old lady to assist? Here he is, strong, wounded, having fought in a hostile mean place and now? Some lady that reminds him of his mom has to help him get out the door. So I called my mom and she said he probably appreciated it, so I felt better.

I'm second guessing myself a lot. Which is not always bad.

Have a nice weekend everybody. I'm going to Mt P. this weekend to see my loved ones.

Hey, Thelma, where's the 82nd Airbourne?"

Why, Louise they are in Iraq!

And they will be coming home shortly. It will take weeks to get them all back. They've been gone 15 months.

It feels like taking part in history. I'll be here waiting.......

"Drive, Louise"

My coworkers are so interesting. One is from Idaho, 2 are from California, one is from Minnesota, one from Texas, and the one male, a thirty-something, recently relocated from Chicago to Columbia SC. THERE'S a culture shock, right? When they all heard I live in Charleston the oos and aaahs started up. I shall have lots of company once I get home, which is fine with me. They've all been overseas at least once, so I hope I have that to look forward to. Four of us had debriefing last night at Ruby Tuesdays (I think it passes for fine dining-I'm not yet sure) and it was just what I needed to move from being the outsider to being part of a team. Funny how that works.

We did a briefing yesterday for returning troops. They were tired but very happy. It was a honor to be able to welcome them home.

I can't say enough about the Hampton Inn Spring Lake. The staff is awesome, the rooms are beautiful AND comfortable-quite the combo.

My car has been at the local Volvo dealership since Tuesday and it should be ready today. I'm getting a rental for the duration of my rotation. I'll get my beloved red car real fixed up when I get home for good. I'm going home tonight to see my loved ones and see how my garden grows. Yay.

Git in the car, Thelma

Today began for me with an uplifting briefing for spouses of returning soldiers presented by the Chaplain. He was really clinically aware and had good information. One of the young women there was married 12 hours before her husband did the surge. That was 15 months ago.

The second big thing of the day was a visit to the FOB-Field Operations Base ( I think. The acronyms abound). There is a simulated Iraqi village out there replete with blown up cars and actual Iraqi and Afghani people being the enemy. Ya gotta love somebody who takes on that job!
I went with my new co-worker, nickname Louise. Since I was passenger I got to be Thelma. We had good laughs-sorry Susan And Gina.

"Louise, I think I like it just fine!"

So my first day was full of orientation and paperwork. I went on a tour of the post and met many nice people. So many long leaf pines everywhere, I forgot how much I love them against that blue sky the color of some school whose name I shall not mention, haha!

The car is in the shop. I am driving it home this weekend and renting on to use while I'm here. Maybe I'll get that Brown's Barbeque after all. I have been too busy to search barbeque huts and sushi spots but that will happen all in good time.

A big group (like REALLY big, thousands) are starting to come home this week. I'm still learning the hierarchy and I don't want to call the group the wrong thing. I am so glad to be here.

"Well, Thelma, how do you like the trip so far?"

I took the back way through rural South Carolina this morning, all excited about my new adventure. I looked at the trees getting ready to bud out, and was happy to see spirea in bloom. I was passing cotton fields ready to plant and was waxing poetic to myself about the beautiful day. Of course, as I sang along to Stevie Wonder, I saw steam coming from my hood. this from my beloved Volvo that has never given me a moment's worth of trouble in the five years I've driven her. I pulled over next to a church (hey, I'm not STOOPID) that had gospel music bouncing off the rafters. I figured if Jesus was anywhere, he was here and I needed him like bad. I got out and put up the hood: steam from a hose. Within a minute an African American woman and her son pulled over to see what was wrong. (I mention the race thing because it will be important as my story progresses. Get a cup of tea.) Her other son pulled up shortly thereafter, and the two men looked at the hose, analyzed it, called all their friends, called Autozone, and found out the hose has to come from Volvo. The closest dealership was in Charleston and I was 70 miles north, just outside of Kingstree, SC. I was so looking forward to lunch at Brown's Barbeque in Kingstree! OH, well. While they sought a solution to my problem, I called roadside assistance but the woman there, as nice as she was, knew far less than my new best friends because she lives far away. Anyway, the men found a friend of a friend with a tow company to tow me back to Charleston. I called him and he was quickly (!) on his way. As we waited for the tow guy to arrive, the ubiquitous white State Trooper pulled up to assess the situation. He got out and said "Ma'am are you okay?" I said "Yes, Officer, I have some great help here, and a towtruck is on the way." I thanked hime, and he left. I looked at my new best friends and we busted out laughing. One of the men said "He was checking on you!" I knew that. Sigh. But hey that's his job right? I was GLAD he was checking on me and if I'd been alone I would have been gladder.

So anyway, I am getting sunburned as it is hot out. The tow truck pulled up and my new friends went to check him out to "make sure he's ok." Sweet. They decided it was ok for me to get in the towtruck and go with the guy. When we got underway, White Guy Tow Truck Man said "You know, I think I can fix that hose. I'll take it to my garage and try. " I said, great. The thought of going all the way back home and figuring out how to start my great new adventure was starting to make my head spin around. We went to his house. While he worked I sat on a porch swing with his wife who told me all about their former daughter in law swiping the grandchildren she had raised from birth at Christmas. She started to cry in the telling, but not to worry. These kids were all under 4 and riding around on these four wheelers like they were grown. they're back and they are fine.

He fixed, I took off splattering thank yous all over the place, and now I am here just off the base in Spring Lake, NC.

So that's my story. I knew it would be an adventure, I just didn't know it would start in Kingstree. I'll have to stop at Brown's another day. What I got was even better than barbeque, and it takes a lot for me to say that!

OK we're back

Today I leave home for six months. I'll be back on weekends because months without my pets, plants, Elvis memorabilia, and Charleston in general would have been too much to ask.

I go to a Very Large Military Installment within driving distance, but too far to commute. I will be assisting military members and families with many issues, including deployment and reentry.

I will find the sushi place. Trust me!