I worked over 60 hours in 4-ish days for Hurricane Ian.
When my unit would finish a mission or exercise in the field we would sometimes have an ENDEX party. Even if it was just sitting around with a few colds ones. We usually just sat there and enjoyed the deafening silence of the night and looked back internally on what went right and what went…not-so-right. And no matter how bad it may have been, I couldn’t wait to deploy with my brothers and sisters in uniform on the next mission. Because I knew they had my back.
Now I sit alone with my 3-finger pour of Jim Beam and my dog on my lap. She wondered where I have been.
I sit watching a cloudy sunset with the remnants of the beast still rotating it’s reach in the western sky.
We dodged another fatal storm. Maybe luck, maybe a century old blessing by the natives.
My liver was probably happy with the reprieve this week. Now I slowly sip the warmth and reflect on when I was younger and bolder, heading out to the disaster zone.
I enjoy this peace and quiet knowing my bed awaits me when I’m ready to sleep.
Cheers.