Today I traveled back in time 20 years and more. The first stop after waving by to Hansel, was Lackland AFB.
Above is an image of a building that had a name on it. No disrespect to the person it was named after but I knew it as the 323 House of Pain. This building is were I was frightened off a bus almost 20 years ago and hoped to blend in and not get called out for an obvious abnormality. Thinking back now the Military Training Instructors were using bully tactics to tear people down immediately after getting off the bus. I guess it is all good though because they build you back up and make you believe in yourself and your brothers and sisters in the 6 weeks it took us to get through basic.
This next shot is obviously the Alamo. I went the wrong way down a street and parked in a bus lane at 0630 to get this shot. very few people around and I got in and out as quick as possible. I might have left a little bit of rubber.
This is me and Mike. Mike and I were stationed together in Ramstein from 2001-2003. 2003 was the last time I had spoken to Mike up until a few days ago. We sat down for coffee and caught each other up in about an hour without skipping a beat. Life leads us down many paths. Each path is hard for the one who owns that path. Friends like Mike would have made my path easier to bear. I wish I never let Mike disappear from my life.
Last thought of the night. This little ball of joy is my niece Mabel. Every time I hold a tiny baby I get the same feeling deep down inside that makes me want to create more life. I also immediately remember that those amazing creations can be taken away in one breath. Those that know me, know that I have a son named Logan who died from complications of epilepsy. Those that know me, know that losing my only bio child (I am a father figure to one amazing young woman I will describe at a later date), changed my life forever. My retirement ceremony was at the site we spread Logan's ashes. This trip is not only to celebrate my career, but life itself. We don't know how much time we have, and we need to make every moment as positive as possible to enjoy it. I sat here in my home town less than 30 miles from the hospital of my birth holding the newest member of my family. Love life like I do...completely.