REUNITED!!!!

I had several reunions over the past several days:
*I was reunited with my family, who came down to visit for the weekend.
*I was reunited with my mom, stepdad and grandma when we visited them in N.C. on Saturday.
*I was reunited with my gear after its joyride to Afghanistan three weeks ago.

The heat continued as the Mid-Atlantic baked under a sweltering sun. We went to the N.C. Aquarium at Ft. Fisher, and then went to the Ft. Fisher museum. The heat and humidity were unrelenting..

I've been living the minimalist life ever since my gear took off and I was left with what they call a 36-hour bag: my backpack with a few t-shirts and socks, and a toothbrush. I'd bought a few pieces of civilian clothes the day after my delay, and retrieved more things when I went home that weekend.

Once I got everything unpacked, my total accumulation of 'stuff' more than doubled. I've been told, however, that some of the gear I was issued at the Naval Mobilization Processing Site at Naval Station Norfolk and at Camp McCrady, Ft. Jackson, S.C., can stay here. For instance, the sleep system (basically a bivouac tent and multi-layer sleeping bag), the fire retardant uniforms, and the insect repellant uniforms. My office mates have assured me that if I bring all my junk in, they will tell me what I can store here in N.C. It would be great to rid myself of an entire seabag of gear. That would leave a rolling duffle and a seabag, plus my weapons case and backpack. I might even be able to carry all of it myself! That has been a constant worry for me: having to move several bags of gear over considerable distance, especially when I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore.

My professional development continues this week as I attend a class with a mix of service members. I got the ultimate compliment a Reservist can get: I was talking to one of my classmates and he asked "Are you a Reservist?" He seemed surprised with that discovery. My Naval Reserve shipmates will understand that 10-15 years ago, it was painfully obvious who was "Just a Reservist." (Yes, I've actually been called that.) It was as if we had a large, flashing "R" on our forehead when we arrived to support a command. These days, however, the distinction is much less obvious. The talents and capabilities Reservists bring to the fight from their civilian occupations have finally been recognized by the Active Component. We are so much more than "JUST" Reservists.

I'll step off my soapbox now.