No Place Like Home

Scott Kyriss, Me, Alyson Ramirez, Jungu Shin

I imagine that hell is a lot like the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Academy. There is a nightmare I am sure to have one day, of me getting a sentenced to hell, and I show up at the NCO Academy. It makes me queasy thinking about it.

The people were great. I met lots of people that made the 6 weeks bearable. I tried to remind myself everyday that it was just 6 weeks...It could be worse, I could be in Afghanistan or Iraq...for 4 months, or 6 months or a year....

By the end of the 6 weeks, my brain was bleeding. The curriculum was difficult to say the least. I had @195 people in my class, which is broken down into 13 flights of 15 people (give or take.) Everyone in my flight of 16 graduated, however, as a class, we only graduated 183. The curriculum is that tough.

My flight nominated me for the Commandant's Award, because they thought I was a good leader. Like the blind leading the blind! I wasn't leading anyone anywhere, except maybe to the bathroom.

I did recieve an award. I was a Distinguished Graduate. The top 10% (17) receive the award. Small price to pay...I am pretty sure I left half my brain in Texas. Who needs to find their way to the bathroom when they're 70?! At least i got that DG award back in '09 from NCOA.

I couldn't believe how much Avery had changed in the 6 weeks I was gone. She was a little skittish at first when she saw me. I was making myself believe it's becasue her brain isn't fully developed...but when she ran down the jet-bridge to her Daddy, that pretty much squashed that.

She has grown so much and changed so much, she was almost unrecognizable. I am so glad we are home. She does something new and funny everyday. Her favorite thing is to yell at me that she loves me. She thinks it's going to save her from taking a nap or going to bed. And she asks for knuckles, just like Kadin. Shes' pretty much potty trained. She won't tell me she has to go, but when I ask her, she says yes and holds it until we make a bathroom trip. Her pull ups are dry except after naps and in the morning.



look at all that hair!

We are in the new house and relaxing today. I am exhausted. Like I was on an airplane for 12 hours and changed 15 time zones. Billy is outside mowing the grass, Avery is taking a nap. Life can not possibly be much better. There really is no place like home...even though this is not where we lived when I left, my family and life fills up this house. My heart is full.