Good Bye, Germany

Leaving Germany was strange.  I spent my entire tour there wishing for home and now that it was time to leave, I was so torn.  I really didn't see how things could possibly work out between me and Newsome.  It was a constant emotional struggle for me.

And I was afraid of reporting to a new unit.  Besides training, Germany was all I knew of the Army.  I felt like a private again.

There was nothing more exciting to me than going home to see my family.  It was so long awaited.  It was so terrifying.

I will never forget the day I left Germany.  My emotions were so mixed they almost canceled each other out making me just numb and void inside.  Newsome took me to the airport, of course.  He waited with me until I boarded the plane.  Well, the passengers that had tickets went into a separate waiting area but we were behind a glass window so we could see out.  Newsome stood there by the window just watching me--waiting for me to board.  I tried not to look at him much --it made me too sad.

Before we parted each other he told me I'd see him in six months.  He promised me in six months he'd come to Kansas to see me.  Just six months.  He told me just hold on for six months.

As we were called to board the plane I got into line and handed my ticket to the flight attendant.  Just as I was ready to board I turned around to look for Newsome.  I wasn't sure if he was still there.

And he was.

He was standing there pressed tightly against the glass, watching me.  He had six fingers held up against the glass and I could read his lips saying, "Six months, just six, months."

I turned and walked away with a sinking feeling in my gut.

I was leaving something behind but what I didn't know and couldn't know, I was taking something with me too.