back at work – 3/12/08
Here I am in front of my decorated office. I had an impromptu press conference for the first couple hours I was back. time to return to being an atlanta workers’ comp attorney.
Here I am in front of my decorated office. I had an impromptu press conference for the first couple hours I was back. time to return to being an atlanta workers’ comp attorney.
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Hi Michael!
Welcome back to the real world…aka…the rest of your life:-)
I have quietly kept up with your blog and some of your replacement – can only do in small doses….sadly, it is coming up faster than I like to think – the next AEF now < 6 months away… You are not alone in your candor/realization of the “it”. “It ” will always be with all of us. The “it” was different the second time for me too – I am less jumpy – although more angry – go figure…. I do not recommend a gold fish – I bought one the first time I came back – he died two wks later – something about areation they seem to like – I didn’t quite get…
Tincture of time is the best of all – and talking about it. I highly recommend getting connected with your local vet outreach center. There is usually one in most communities – there are lots of folks there who’ve been there and understand. Also, if your unit has not sought out services of VA to come and help with re-entry at the unit level – this was extremely beneficial for me – and others in my unit. Yeah, there were issues in our unit too – mostly related to communication – or lack there of. If folks in your unit are still not speaking – it is past time to call in VA – they can help facilitate discussion – all may not take advantage of – but should be mandated that all attend in small grp sessions to hopefully get best benefit.
As characterized by someone I have come to know through his blog and in an article published about soldier blogs in the Nat’l Guard mag in 2006 – think this pretty much says it all:
“….The mud is the same, the high walls still grope for the sky, even the wind tastes the same as when we arrived. But I am not earth, nor stone, nor air. I am a creature of blood and bone….. and I have changed. I am leaving this FOB (forward operating base) a different man than the one who arrived at these chill gates those many months ago. I’ve sipped from the poison chalice of loss. Felt my veins run with chill blood and my face streak hot with tears. And I’ve watched the reaper’s scythe whistle through the desert air. Mortal things cannot brush shoulders with eternity without bearing scar of their meeting. And so I am changed….both inside and out.”
Captain Danjel Bout, California National Guard – Feb 2006
Lastly – (I apologize for so long) no judgment – but could not disagree with you more re being able to not give a damn about others’ feelings that would be a good quality for a leader. For me it’s been learning the ability to not personalize the other’s feelings that has been key…this for me has been/sometimes remains a challenge.
Here’s hoping tincture of time will help to begin healing for all.
Much respect, Godspeed, and thankful you are back home!
Sam
Sam Cotton - May 13, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for the kind words! I’m sorry to hear y’all are already looking at another rotation. I’m told our next one will be CONUS, but one never knows til the orders arrive, of course. I was supposed to be in Germany last winter but instead got the “are you sitting down” phone call.
Hope we stay in touch. I’ll post from time to time if I feel it’s relevant to deployments and could benefit someone who’s getting ready to go. Take care–
mm - May 13, 2008 at 8:43 pm