FLTC: from Iraq

[S_O_T_S]

Hi FTLC.

I knew my ears were burning, but I didn't know why. Now I know.
Quoting you in bold, as always.

There really are no familiar names here any more,

This is certainly true. Though the stories are all exactly the same as all the prior ones. So much of all of this is so preventable, but nobody knows it needs to be prevented until it's too late.

althought Stoic ont he surface has reappeared, writng to others. Others have just probably died on the vine, or succumbed.

1. Don't think I haven't been watching your story, too, I just don't really think I have much that's useful to say to much of anybody anymore. Except sorry you're where you are and you'll most likely be OK no matter the outcome of your situation.

2. I'm still kicking around on my own thread too, but the D happened back in May, and I'm just trying to keep moving on. And not much happens, so I don't post much of my own.

W. used to blame either her unhappiness in the marriage or the tenseness between her and me......now what?

It may not matter. I'd like to think she'll have some revelation and realization that her issues didn't end once you were deployed. Then again, my suspicion is that she may find a way to rationalize and blame you anyway. And that last sentence is why I try not to post much anymore, since I don't really want to be dashing anyone's hopes. This whole thing is hard enough as it is without nattering nabobs of negativity popping up everywhere.

I'm surrounded by great people that I've spent the last 8 months with, with none of the interactions with W., so it's fairly easy now, but going home in 10 months........eh?

Maybe things will have changed in 10 months?

I go between thinking I'll be fine if this doesn't work out to the polar extreme of how horrible it will be to be alone......Nights, weekends...you all know.

Since I'm living the reality, it's somewhere in between. Sometimes it is fine. Sometimes it's really horrible. I try to remind myself of two things: 1) the times it is horrible don't come as often, and aren't as horrible as they once were (and they are only temporary) and 2) to some extent, I have some control over the horribleness and its duration.

The highest ranking chaplian in the Army spoke here today. A major general. His advice was "Never Give Up".

Words to live by, no matter where you are or what you're doing.

I wished I had not been working. It seemed perfect.

Too bad you were, and it is perfect, especially in light of the fact that the first sentence of yours I quoted above in purple is, for the most part, true.

It's based on the fact that suicides are going up here. Not dramatically, but enought to concern people.[/b]

I can't tell you how sad this is. The guys in the trenches bear the brunt of it all in more ways than non-combatants can ever know. I recently read a story of guys sacrificing themselves to save the guys next to them - AND - the difficult times faced by those who were saved by those actions.

Stay safe.