Awesomeness

That's a picture of Travis' first graduating platoon on Armed Forces Day. I think he's the guy immediately behind the two flags in the foreground, further to the left.

A few tears came to my eyes when I saw this picture for the first time. I know, you're all so shocked, huh? I am sure I'll cry when I see him walk this class onto the parade field for their graduation too, since it was dumb luck that our trip coincides with graduation.

I guess the tears are for a lot of reasons. Initially this assignment seemed like a punnishment to Travis. He absolutely didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave his unit, especially not right before they were set to leave. I didn't want it either, but I also didn't want him to deploy again. One night we were talking about all of this and my husband, who has never been the luck/fate/sign-from-God type, said, "Maybe this is God's way of saying going to Iraq again is just a bad idea. Maybe God is trying to tell us something." I think that is when my attitude toward this move changed.

We are truly leaving our comfort zone. We know El Paso and what to expect here. We have friends who will forever be in our hearts, even if they aren't right down the street any more. My doctors are here, which seems stupid to people who haven't really needed doctors like I have, but it means the world to me and Travis. El Paso, overall, has been very good to us.

I've had a lot of time to think with Travis gone and the sleepless nights I've had. Travis never wanted to be in the training environment. He is the GO type. If something needs doing, he does it. If someone needs correction, he corrects them. If something needs fixing, he gets it fixed. He doesn't sit still. He can't stand inferiority. He believes in second chances.

Maybe that's why the training environment is exactly where he needs to be.

I can't say how proud I am of Travis. He's always been the quiet type of Soldier, who doesn't need accolades or approval, and doesn't seek them out. He does his job because it is his job, plain and simple.

His job now is to train the next wave of Soldier mechanics, who will go out to motor pools like the ones he used to have, who will be the next wave to have sandy boots. Although he is not in the classroom, they are learning from him. They see the type of man and Soldier he is and I can't help but believe that somewhere down the line one of them will be inspired by him and his leadership. Maybe they will try to emulate him professionally. Maybe the training they get from him will save their lives and/or the lives of other Soldiers one day.

That is awesome.