Then, and Now.

6 months ago today was the last time I woke up in my own bed. It was the last time I saw my home. It was the last time I drove my own truck (Thanks John and Leslie for taking such good care of it!!). It was the last time my life was in any way "normal".

Now, in the grand scheme of things, 6 months is not a long time but when you're taken from all you know and those you love, it is an eternity. It has gone by very quickly in some respects, but in others time seems to stand still.

It is amazing to me, as I knew it would be, to look back on all that I once took for granted and compare those things to all the "little" things that I now look forward to.

I used to dread having to "work" (i.e. sitting around a fire station and on occasion, flying a helicopter) 7 whole days in a row. Now I work 9 or 10 days in a row and consider myself lucky.

I used to think that 7 days off in a row was normal. Now I'm happy just to have one day off.

I used to complain about having to go to the grocery store. Now I only wish I could select my own groceries.

I used to complain about occasionally having to cook. Now, it would be an unheard of luxury to actually be able to cook your own meals (microwaves dont count).

I used to leave Jaislyn in daycare because it was easier to run my errands by myself. Now, I would do anything to spend just 5 minutes with her or Jamie.

I used to call my parents two or three times a week, because I let myself get too "busy" to call every day. Now, talking to them, Jamie and Jaislyn is the highlight of my day and I wish I could call two or three times per day, no matter how busy I am.

I used to drive everywhere, no matter how close the destination, and usually I found it inconvenient. Now I walk a mile and a half round trip to work and I don't even notice.

I used to see dogs and cats and never give them a second look. Now, seeing a dog is reason to go out of my way to pet it (there aren't any dogs here on base aside from MP dogs, but occasionally the USO brings a therapy dog for a visit...funny what something as simple as petting a dog can do for morale).

I used to pass all sorts of lush greenery every day without notice. Now, we plant small (1'x3') patches of grass outside our rooms and call them "lawns" and people will stop, look and admire.

I would occasionally hear birds chirping outside, but didn't give them a second thought. Now, I love hearing the sparrows chirping in the morning because it reminds me of home.

Simple things like changing radio stations, or having more than 6 TV channels, or being able to take a shower by yourself without having to wear flip-flops, or go more than 2 miles from your home whenever you wanted... I used to take it all for granted. Now, I'll listen to the radio station they broadcast on the TV guide channel, just because it's a radio station. I'm happy to have any sort of TV, because occasionally they show something new (LOTS of reruns of reruns). I am thankful we have any showers, because there are lots of people who don't. I'm also more than happy to stay safely within the confines of my base, because I realize that there are thousands who only wish they didn't have to venture outside "the wire" every day.

I know that when I return home, I will likely eventually lose sight of these things and once again I will take them for granted, but hopefully when I read this blog it will remind me of how precious even the simplest of daily activities really are, and how we need to cherish those around us at every opportunity we're given.