Well I did it, I was able to free myself from the bonds of Fort Dix. Now it is Christmas and you are probably wondering why I am writing a blog entry right now. Well, as you can imagine the shopping situation was restricted to Fort Dix, which doesn’t offer very many options in the gift area. So until yesterday, Christmas Eve at 1530 (3:30 p.m. for all of you civilians out there- haha) I finished my shopping.
This was a hard-fought battle in which I had no support from my fellow Soldiers at my flanks, I really could have used their help. Alone in the trenches I fought the crowds, the unruly drivers and the ghastly hordes of people all swarming like bees on a hive to get those last minute gifts. The process began the day after I got home to New Hampshire. Arriving late on Monday night in Manchester, my girlfriend picked me up. It took us nearly an hour to escape the mob of people who, from all points surrounding, converged on the city mall causing such massive grid-lock that travel by foot seemed like a good option. We finally broke free and got home for a night of chill-axing.
The next day was the onslaught. Like a deranged CIA operative, I planned my assault on the local mall, I had floor plans laid out in my mind: the closest exits, best routes of ingress and egress, the potentially least-heavily-trafficked sales counters. Knowing that no plan survives first contact, I expected it to be a long day. One thing that i didn’t have planned… I had no idea what to get anyone! Sure I had a good idea back in, ohhh, August when this whole thing started. You must remember that I haven’t seen most of my family, save for but a handful of days, in nearly a quarter of a year. So, with my head on a swivel, I scanned, I searched I, I, I, I was exhausted. For eight hours on the 23rd and four hours on Christmas Eve… but I did it. I dodged the old ladies and their lethal shopping carts, I skirted around the slow-walkers in the mall, I jumped like a gazelle out of the paths of cell-phone addicted drivers, I came, I saw, I conquered-I power shopped!
Now I sit here at my parents Christmas morning, the presents have all been opened. We all had Christmas breakfast, a tradition in my family that I a going to miss. Now for the rest of the running around. Time to get showered and ready for a trip to my grandmother’s house for lunch. So here I am, three days into my leave and I haven’t really had any time to sleep-in, workout, or enjoy my time. Boy, Christmas is intense.
Unfortunately I didn’t make it to church. Mom went to midnight mass Christmas Eve, I wish I could have joined her. I went to Jen’s parent’s house to see her family last night, Christmas Eve. I got to see most of her family so that was nice. But, it has been far to long since I have attended regularly, but I look forward to going more while I’m deployed.
But for now it is run around, make people happy and try to relax. I think if I find myself in this situation in the future, Christmas will be at my house and anyone who wishes will come over. We’ll have a grand old time.
Oh I think that the shower’s open…got to run!
Merry Christmas!