Question:
Long time no see... I just got back to the US. I guess I should fill ya in on why I left the country huh? It has been a while!
A while back, once I was able to drive again after the crash (that bone head CRST codriver of mine got me hurt in). I was so happy to return to driving and then I saw a TV commercail for The Army National Gaurd (recruiting transport drivers) and you know me... I said to myself (one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer- for good medical coverage year around, that sounds fair to me). What the hay... I can do that.
So I enlisted-
as an 88mike (which is military for truckdriver) and since I fell into the casp catagory (casp stands for Civilain Aquired Specail Preperation) because I already had my CDL with haz-mat... and the next thing I knew it was off to Fort Jackson SC for Basic Training- where I got my out of shape butt kicked for nine weeks (what was I thinking? I am to old for that, but I made it through despite the fact that my tail was dragging compared to those highschool kids in training with me- girl, I had never been so depressed). After Graduation, "I was thinking I'm glad that's over! Now I can fall back to that weekend and summer schedule" but things never go so easy for me and within days I was on my way to Iraq... just my luck right? Go Figure!
I was there for the longest 7 months of my life but just like with any bad penny, I'm back AGAIN! Ha! Ha!
I see you are the Newbie Moderator... You go girl!
So, what else did I miss? How's Bob Doing?
Let's keep in touch, we have alot of catching up to do!
thecrstkid@aol.com
NEVER drive faster than your gaurdian Angel can fly...
Angel

Answer:
Of course, I remember You! -->
It's been awhile since I've talked to Bob, but he is Back with WSE.
I'm not sure if you were around when he Left WSE & went with Hill Bros.(out of Nebraska), now he is Back with WSE.
I'm running local end dump trk, hauling rocks along I-35.
I'll be going back OTR in 2004(after Summer).
I'll be attending M.A.T.S. in March of 2004(which happens to be my Birthday).....I sure hope to see you there.(I've already registered for my FREE tickets & reserved my hotel room & car rental.) -->
email me & I'll send you my phone number.(I have a new cell number, but the same home number.)
BTW...Welcome Back! -->

Answer:
Midnight Angel
Welcome back home. Thanks much for your time and your help in Iraq.
Happy Holidays
Larry -->

Answer:
I had an ace in the hole- OTR had me far better prepared for the situation than I imagined. When others were complaining about the long hours, the lack of sleep, the hardships of some settings, and such... I was able to take it in stride because it wasn't that much different than what I went through OTR.
I guess it showed because I made the grade and currently rank E-4 (just one grade away from commissioned officer) even though I have less than a year in service. It was difficult but EXTREMELY WORTH WHILE and rewarding!
I am a bit older than most new recruits (they typically go in right out of high school) but I will be 33 next week and it was the first time most of those kids had been away from home. So, without realizing it, I became a roll model and since it was easier for me to adjust- I was in turn able to help them adapt. Nothing has ever been so fulfilling for me. I had no children of my own but I have 8 of someone else’s now Ha! Ha!
We all came home together (on Scheduled Rotation) and coming back with EVERYONE I left Southern California with is more than I could ask for(but we got paid to boot, couldn't ask for more) Ha! Ha! -->
NEVER drive faster than your gaurdian Angel can fly...
Angel