the right decision

Only a year ago, it was Halloween.  A favorite holiday of mine - the tricks, the treats, the spooks, the freaks.  Type A personality - a perpetual planner, Halloween festivities were planned that which included haunted house, scary movies, Uncle John's Cider Mill, carving pumpkins, parties, bar hopping, etc.

As this year's All Hollows Night approaches, I find myself reminiscing about the good 'ol days.  Hindsight - things seemed much more simpler, even though they weren't necessarily.  Working two jobs, going to school full-time, I surprised many people that I hadn't worn myself thin.  One can only imagine the rude awakening (literally) I walked into coming here out east, being put to bed after 0000 and awoken at 0430, with the primary and sole focus to earn my commission in the United States Navy.  

Maintain a thousand yard stare.  Be ballistic when responding to the Drill Instructors or Chiefs barking commands.  Mark time.  Stamp and prep uniforms.  Memorize an abundance of gouge.  Remedial physical beatings.  Check your gig line.  Shine your cadillacs.  Eat by the numbers.  Drink by the numbers.  Get on line right now.  1, 2, 3, 4 - I love the Marine Corp.  And no longer did I have a first name, I was known and am still known only by Gage - to rid the dichotomy of the opposite sexes.  

During my initial week of training, I managed to fall in a pothole.  Yes, we have excellent training conditions here at Navsta Newport.  Nevertheless, I forged ahead with two jacked up feet.  I was trying to focus on the end reward, mentally comparing our evolutions to the gameshow, Whammy!  Unfortunately, I lost and was rolled to H-Class, eventually being NPQ'd (Not Physically Qualified) due to stress fractures and bone contusions.  Fortunately, my great negotiating skills and stellar personality helped convince the Skipper (CO - Commanding Officer) to allow me to stay here and and resume training once I am healed.

And now...almost five months later and still med down, oh how I wish I could go back to the college lifestyle for just a blip where everything seemed so simple.  While I miss those good 'ol days, I do not regret my decision to join the USN.  In fact, it probably is one of the best and most sound decisions I have ever made in my life.