It was today, 2 years ago, that Hurricane Rita roared onto the shores of the United States between Texas and Louisianna.  I had spent the last 30 hours driving with my task force from New York, and had ended up in Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Due to a combination of forecasting miscues as well as a slight deviation from our road trip plan, we were held overnight while the storm landed so as not to actually be caught in its path.  We were housed through the graciousness of the Vicksburg Fire Department and the generosity of the Ameristar Casino located there on the actual Mississippi river.  It is because of them, I am able to check of Frog Legs from my list of Things To Eat One Day.  That was also the last night I would sleep under a solid roof until October 15, when on the return trip we stopped in Tennessee at a Holiday Inn Express (hey, only the best, ya know?) in the town of Bristol.  I did alot those 25 days.  I saw alot of things, met alot of people.  It was a simpler time although there were so many complications.  In the end though, I was glad to get home… I had things… people… here for me.

If there was a deployment today, or tomorrow, or whenever… I would definitely go again.  The difference though… is I really don’t have anything here for me to rush home to anymore.  There really would be nothing stopping me from staying in Vicksburg for… well… the rest of my life.  Now I know I have friends and family here, but there is no one I am actually obligated or committed to.  There’s really no reason to be here for me anymore.  It’s both scary and saddening when I think about it.

What would bring you home?