Indescribable

It's summer and I cannot get over having graduated from the Academy.  I have the elated feeling of someone who has slipped, skidded, slid, and landed with a thud at the end of a long journey and poised to begin another one with a lot more drive, focus, vision, and purpose.  My last week at the point I ended up getting 20 hours of tours - which I served - and had one final regimental S-4 task that really snuck up and sucker punched the hell out of me.  But both experiences made me feel really alive afterwards.  In fact my last walking hour was right after the banquet on Thursday.  I put on my white over gray uniform one more time for punishment and under arms went to central area.  There were still classmates and parents and officers trailing out of the mess hall.  Michelle Obama had left already, but it was only ten after nine when I started.  So, with the breastplate glinting on my chest and my scabbard at my side and my saber on my shoulder I walked the best hour of my life.  I don't really know what it's like to lose endless weekends for that sort of thing, although it really threw a wrench in my graduation week plans, but I had the sense of paying my dues.  That night I got weird looks, raised eyebrows, shouts of encouragement, one raised fist alongside a "Keep fightin' the good fight" and the inevitable two questions, a knowing "How many more?" and a perplexed "Were you here the whole time?"

It's a week, it's a day, it's a moment I will not forget.  And graduation was a blur, it was the commissioning ceremony afterwards that I really appreciated.  The Law Department all being JAGs and mostly being officers arranged a small and intimate ceremony on the lawn of the one of the homes on "Colonel Row" that overlooks the Hudson River.  They are officers who really care and they had a profound impact on the way I see life.  I kept nearly all my law books, and will definitely stay in contact with those former professors.  Now that I have a moment to pause and reflect... I have the feeling I am sitting on a wide open plain and I can mold this landscape into something that reflects who I really am.

I haven't had any nightmares I'm back at West Point yet, but I've heard of recent graduates having them.  I am happy, but trying really hard not to be a nuisance to anyone.  I am somewhat homeless until July 6 when I have to be back at West Point to help with land navigation training through August 8.  While a lot of graduates go home, it's a long drive back to El Paso and I'd like to do some traveling.  I just want to make sure my car and belongings are looked after while I'm gone.  If I didn't belong to a greater organization I would be a little more carefree, but I have that commitment and responsibility so I cannot simply run amok.

Unlike my friends who are doing full blown Euro-trips, I am going to be stationed in Germany next year and so I am more interested in just going wherever the wind blows me this next month and a half.  I've been talking about the space-A military flights for a while, and I'd like to give that a shot soon.  As soon as I organize my personal stuff better in my car than it's been... I'll figure out when and where I can politely hand off my car and I'll be on my way for another adventure that is unique and rewarding.

Same Shit. Different Day.

I packed one box.
I still have my TA-50, but receiving conflicting instructions.
Started to sort my clothes.
Threw away some stuff.
Picked up my ASUs.
Cleared out (nearly) the basement lockers (basement cat is pleased).

Now still have to finish packing to ship stuff tomorrow.  Then throwing away loads of stuff, and picking up my dry cleaning.  I'll take care of the foreign travel allowance, and I'll hopefully get some clearance signatures.  The next two biggest things are nice sucker punches from West Point before I graduate.

Finishing 20 hours this week.  I knocked out 5 on Monday, 3 today.  So I have 12 left and 3 days to do 'em.  And I have 16 cots signed to my name, and I'm not sure how much they cost, but I may have a fee to pay West Point just to graduate and what really sucks is the cots are all probably here... just no one is willing to find them.  I looked around to see if there were some lying around and there are... so worst case scenario I'll scrounge a few... and hopefully only have to pay for 10 or something.  My cots aren't where I left them.  The room has been cleared out, and my investigation hasn't been conclusive yet.  Oh well, it's less than it would have been if I had been responsible for 75 cots, thank goodness.

Four days:  gotta focus on the bright side.  Bright side. Half full.  So close....

I KNow...

I know I should have packed my boxes already...
I know I should have turned in the TA-50 I won't need...
I know I should have picked which clothes I'll need for OBC and which ones can go into storage...
I know I should have created a much bigger throw-away pile...
I know I should pick up my dry-cleaning...
I know I need to take care of my foreign travel allowance paperwork (which I just found out about)...
I know I should finish those last graduation announcements...
I know I should make dinner reservations...
I know I should clear out my basement lockers...
I know I should finalize my summer plans...
I know the above includes budgeting...

but it's really really hard to concentrate >.< when graduation is this SATURDAY!!!