I made it to and through my experience in Rhode Island. And boy, was it an experience.
It was the hardest five weeks of my life. But I had tons and tons of fun. Ok, yeah, we got up at 3:30 everyday to work out and get yelled at. Sure, the first week they would storm in each morning screaming and cursing, kicking our doors down. And yes, being without your cell phone while simultaneously missing the crap out of your loved ones makes for some nights of pure pitifulness. But, I met some truly awesome people who I will never forget, and have the fortune of working with many of them. It was like living with 45 of your best buddies, and you didn't really have time to be lonely. Going into Newport on liberty in our summer whites (i.e., "Top Gun" uniforms) and getting photo requests from tourists and special treatment in bars and restaurants (um, hello VIP room and free drinks!) was quite amazing, and it was also cool when total strangers would come up and thank us for our service.
I almost miss it. I was running like hell to get out of there, haha, so I could see my family again. But it was some solid good times. I am a push-ups champ now.
So here I am, in my house in the historic district of Portsmouth, Virginia, with an all access pass to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. I live 5 minutes from work...very nice for when those early morning 12 hours shifts start. Nevermind that I could be deployed in 6 months...a prospect I am kinda excited about but petrified of at the same time.
But, I do miss Nashville. I miss my family, I miss my college friends. I miss this time of the year in Cookeville when things are getting started up and there is an air of excitement and anticipation throughout the campus. And its kinda a tear-jerker to know that it is the end of an era, and that although I am always welcome back to school and old friends, it will be as the person on the outside looking in. Kinda weird.
Oh well, time to get life moving!
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