It's Been a While

Wow,

It has been quite a while since I last wrote. I was able to leave the Land of the Morning Calm and Adishady for yet another TDY or as my friends call it a corporate junket. Although this was no ordinary junket. I was able to travel back to the United States for the first time in over seven months. I visited the Nation's Capitol. It was great to visit my friend Lincoln. I can also never get over the Washington Monument. It does not seem that large as you sweep past it as you touch down at Reagan National Airport. Standing next to it, however made me seem that much smaller. Its' ring of flags was swallowed into blue as there was not a cloud in the sky that day. As I strolled through city I also stopped off at my old law school. Its grey building had not changed in the six years since I visited it. The nearby Metro stop elevator was still broken as always and of course there was grafitti. Memories of long ago flooded back for me. It is crazy to think that it has been almost 10 years since I started law school. It is funny to look back and remember that I thought that law school was the most challenging thing in my life. Now that I am on the cusp of yet another deployment, I laugh at such a thought. It is amazing how the passing of time makes one grow up in a sense.

In addition to recapturing the sites of the capitol, and my time in law school, I was able to reconnect with friends old and new. It was also great to see my parents and spend time with them. I am reminded each time I see them how lucky and blessed I am with my life. My brother and his wife also welcomed a new baby into this world. I am now a proud uncle. There will be another Barry boy. Look out. I am meloncholy at the thought of deploying to an unknown land. For a second time I will miss a couple of weddings, birthdays, Christmas with my family and have to delay starting any meaningful relationship for at least another six months. They say timing is everything. However, each time I am able to spend with these special people, I am quickly reminded of why I do what it is I do.