Better late than never, I say. I would just like to officially offer myself some belated congratulations. I have just passed my one year anniversary of getting out of the military. Yay, go me! I will be honest. In a lot of ways I really miss it (yes, yes, gasp all you want. It’s all true). I miss the people, I miss the comradery, I miss the hours of complaining about everything, I miss the sleep deprivation, I miss the sense of purpose, I miss the adrenaline and the adventures, I miss running around in horrible weather under worse conditions doing what was probably something completely pointless, I miss the easy purpose, and sometimes I even miss all the sniping comments. For all that I didn’t like about my experiences, something about it became a part of myself, even as I was in so many many ways different from your typical soldier. That being said, I highly doubt I’ll return (I won’t say never, as I’ve learned nothing is impossible). I just think I’ve passed the time in my life where it even moderately worked. Now, I’d just like to find a way to fit all the things I enjoyed about it into my present life. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I’m not sure I’ve been looking in the right places.

But yes, in celebration of my first year of ‘freedom’ in pretty much all of my adult life, I toast an imaginary glass to myself. I also send a virtual salute to all my friends out there still in uniform. You’re all amazing and I miss you (well, most of you).