Some Other Beginning's End

The 45th and final post, of course, is the hardest to write. But I have to stick to what I said I'd do and end this now that I'm finally leaving. So here I go, this is it, and the looming end is a bittersweet beginning to the next chapter of my life.

I made it. I passed everything and got all my clearances and am now waiting in a hotel room in Reno for the long flights to Baghdad to begin. In a few hours I'll fly from here to LAX and then catch a flight from there to Istanbul. Monday morning at 3am I'll leave Turkey for Iraq and should be there in time to once again see the Arabian sunrise that has haunted me ever since my tired eyes last saw its burning expanse. That was 2 long years ago. It's a bit odd this time because it's all commercial flights instead of military hops in the back of a C-130 or C-17. I'm thankful this company thinks about saving money and flies us commercial rather than paying the couple of thousand it coasts to use MilAir. Yes, it's actually cheaper now to fly into Baghdad on a commercial jet. Turkish Air will be my ride.

I think I started this in June of 2010, which means almost 16 months have passed while I trekked up this hill. So many people have come in, (and sadly out), of my life in that time. I'm not sure if these ramblings will make anything clear to anyone who reads it, other than maybe to prove that I really am crazy and have known it all along. But at least I tried to say something about my life during one of its most difficult periods. I feel good about that even if it means someone else has to read my thoughts and be upset by them. I guess all this time I have known my words would be read by some of the people I wrote them about and that it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing. I have always been nervous about that. But if you are reading this last entry now maybe you've come far enough with me not to mind. I didn't change anything after it was written to spare feelings. I purposely left names out when needed, but that just seemed like the right thing to do considering my circle of friends isn't that big.

OK, that's it. I am feeling a strong urge right this second to end this and move on. I have so much to do. I have so much to see. I hope you stay with me through what's to come. For the last time, I reach out to you with a reassuring touch and say...All Is Well.

"Hero's take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves."

Thank you Little Wing

-JF

PS, If this is the first post you've read, go back and scroll down to the very beginning. It might make more sense to read chronologically.