Going Home From Iraq

 This is my third deployment to Iraq.  The first deployment took place from March 2004 to March 2005.  The second deployment went from October 2006 to December 2007.  The current deployment is ongoing but started in December 2008 to present.  This hub has been written on 18 Aug 2009, the day before I am to go on mid tour leave.

I couldn't be any happier with this new development because there are so many negative things going on in the world today.  I only know what I read on the internet for news because I am quite frankly tired of all the rubish on the news channels.  Personally, I am the kind of guy that would be content to hear about something once.  What I have discovered with T.V. news is that they love to drag a story through the dirt until nobody gives a rip anymore.  Anyway I digress.

Throughout the past deployments, I have changed my personality. This is kind of to be expected because of the stresses of combat. After the first deployment I became distant from everything and everyone. I hid from social contact even with my family. This is a period that in retrospect I regret. The second deployment was far worse and I continued to sink into self destructive patterns of behavior. I drove my family further away from me, I refused to talk about somethings that I witnessed during the deployment with the only person in the world that deserved to know...my wife.

I think this period of time coupled with the intermission of the first deployment compounded and drove the wedge even further. One would think that a marriage would not survive in this type of environment. Well they'd be right on the money. Divorce was imminent and at one point it was almost worth giving up, then I spoke with my friends who recommended a movie for me to watch. The movie was "FireProof". If you have never watched this movie and are having troubles in your marriage, watch it and learn. I did just that and told my wife about it. She watched it and sent me the book.

So we discussed where we were going as a couple and agreed to see where it goes. From that day to this I have taken measures to change who I am as a man. I cannot say that I am where I should be but each journey begins with the first steps. I look so forward to going home, even though it's for only two weeks. In this time frame I plan on giving everything of myself to my marriage. I know that it will be an incredibly hard journey but I believe that love deserves every effort that it requires. My wife is the strongest woman I know and I admire everything about her.

With the excitement of what is to come and what is possible I am beside myself with excitement.  I have practically worn a hole in my floor from pacing so much.  For a hardened combat veteran who has realized the fallacy of his ways and wishes to make everything right again, there is nothing more exciting than going home.  I am sure other vets may feel the same way.  I know that I will be tested by myself.

 For my baby girls that mean the world to me, I look forward to spending some good quality daddy--daughter time.  I tell you there is nothing greater than being your little girls hero.  Remember I am SuperDad.

So good times will abound as we get to catch up on all the happenings of the last eight months.  For everyone at hubpages that reads this I will see ya'll again in September.