I just had my first Christmas at home in 3 years. It took more than just booking a flight to get there. Here is what happened and what I did with my time home.

    Originally the plan to get home was to get a ride from my friend Elizabeth on the 21st to the airport and I would be home that night. Nothings ever easy. Washington decided to have a huge snowstorm that weekend. It started snowing pretty good Saturday afternoon, so my friend Seleb and I decided to try to get to the airport that night so we would be there in the morning for our flights. Elizabeth and her Dad, David, offered us a ride to catch the bus that goes to the airport. We got to the bus stop, which was a hotel, and waited for a while. I checked on my flights status while we waited and discovered my flight was canceled. So David, Elizabeth and myself started calling trying to get me another flight. We managed to get one for the morning of the 22nd. Seleb was only going to California so he managed to get a flight. I went back with Elizabeth and her Dad to their house. I stayed there the weekend. My 2nd flight was canceled again Sunday night. I almost dindt get another flight, but Elizabeth's mother Marie managed to get me a flight on the 22nd again. The rest of the weekend we went sledding a couple times and watched "It's a Wonderful Life". It was a fun weekend.
    Monday morning came around and it was time to get to the airport. My flight was at 9:45 and we left a little after 5. Plenty of time for the traffic and bad roads. Normally anyway. We left their driveway  and pulled onto their dead end road. Sitting in the middle of the road is a truck. We get out intending to move it and find that there is a tree down in front of the truck. David turned the truck headlights on which revealed the giant tree behind the first one. The giant one was covered in vines creating a solid wall across the road. What would have stopped anyone else was only a delay thanks to the St. Martins. David got his chainsaw and cut a tunnel through the trees. The first tree was easy. The second tree he cut the vines away under it and drove the car right under the tree. We decided to take the ferry to Seattle and drive south from there to the airport. I made it to the airport with about half an hour to spare. Without my friends I probably wouldn't have gone home at all. I am blessed with great friends on two coasts.
    I arrived in PA late on the 22nd. My mom and grandfather picked me up and took me home. I stayed up with my parents talking when I got home. My dad was sick with bronchitis for the first couple days I was home. That stunk but he got better before I left.

    That is the beginning of my trip home. I will add more later. I have to go back to work.

    The wind was blowing from the south, as the sun sank behind the mountains. The evening was chill for June. the young warrior watched as the clouds rolled by. He and his companions were standing guard over a treasure none of them really understood, other than a need for it to be guarded. Thoughts of family and friends passed the time as he looked about at the scenery. He was alone for now.   
    His thoughts turned to how he ended up at this point in his life. Many of those like him were there to get away from their homes for one reason or another, or were hungry for a fight. They dreamed  of screams and  blood and glory. That was not this man's dream or his escape. He was there to fulfill a duty, to grow as a man, and experience something few can say they have. No, he had no desire for battle, but was prepared for it. He would not relish in violence, but would resort to it. He was serving as he was taught was right since he was a small boy.
    Fulfilling this duty was taking it's toll on the man. He felt it, but knew in the end he would be stronger for it.
    He was snapped out of his reverie by the sudden appearance of his superior. The large high ranking official was a rough man whom many feared. He was one who cherished the fight. This quality mixed with some poor judgement and bad situations lead to the young man having multiple bad encounters with the official in the past.   
    This time though he passed without even a glance at the young man. Somewhat relieved he returned to watching over the treasures.
    The sun was out of sight now. Gone behind the mountains and replaced with clouds. He prayed it would not rain. It rained a lot in the encampment. Mixed with the cool temperature it was often a dreary place for standing watch. On occasion though, the sun would shine on the mountains in the distance and illuminate the trees surrounding his refuge and he would be resigned to admit it really was one of the most beautiful sights he had seen.    As he awaited his relief, his thoughts turned to one of his most common past times. There was one theme he could not keep out of his thoughts. As with most young men this was a young lady. This young lady was fascinating to the man. From the moment he had met her, he knew he was lost. He would not admit it to himself for a time, but it was soon all too clear. She captivated him. She arrived in his life just in time to remind him of the good still in the world when all he knew since his old life was different shades of darkness.
    Though she meant so much to him, he hesitated. His life was temporary and sporadic. He didn't know if anything could come out of pursuing her in such unstable circumstances. So instead, he settled for a cherished friendship.
    This friendship lead to many more and so the young man lived through the tedium of watching over his charge for the moments he could almost return to his old self. These times were few and short lived. At first it was hard for him to interact. He was naturally reserved, but over time, with much coaxing he opened up little by little. He learned to balance his double life and find some happiness.
    With that thought his relief arrived. He was a smaller man. New to the life. He took over the watch, to be left with his own thoughts to be had. The young man left his relief with only one more though, " Only a few more days."

Wow it has been a while. That last post was a little dramatic, but everything was pretty much better within a week or two of the post. Since then I have officially signed up for the Marines and am leaving on Nov 14 for basic. I earned my Eagle scout so that makes me a Private First Class automatically after basic training. Just recently i gave in to peer pressure and made a myspace site. Clayton left for basic two weeks ago. Garrett and I really miss him. Its just not the same and more changes are to come so thats kind of a downer. Other than that i have been working for my dad and at Sarah-Kate Interiors. I have never seen so much money come at me but most of it is going into a savings account. Well i better get back to work.