Round About Stress .......Jo

Okay, so I leave an hour early from my home base #1 to go to base #2 to do a big briefing. I am so excited that Thom called and I got to talk to him this morning that I didn't quite leave at 8:00am as scheduled. But I'm out the door at 8:07 and feel I've left plenty of time to make it to base #2, a normal 30 minute trip by 9:00am. WRONG!

So the first thing is that there's traffic up the wazoo and then I go around the roundabout one too many times. At this point, the GPS is politely telling me to round the roundabout again, "take the thurrrd exit on the left". I realize that I've missed the turn and then about the time that I'm trying to recover, the bloody GPS falls from the windshield onto the floor. I grab it, put it back up and start out again, only mildly starting to sweat as now it's about 8:25. Still time, I tell myself.

Hmmmm. This road seems familiar now I tell myself but something is wrong. Wait. I think the GPS has reset itself and we're going back home to base #1!!!! Okay, I'm telling myself, don't panic, there's still time. I reset the GPS for base #2 and luckily I get onto the A14 or the motorway (as close to the freeway as you're going to get in England). Anyway, I'm now very nervous but settle back in and arrive miraculously at base#2 at 8:55. Unbelievable. I now calmly pull myself together and go in and do a briefing for 150 people. Good recovery, eh?

There are 2 Marines in the audience amongst all the other branches. After my brief, I go up and talk to them. I have used the "Marine card" and told the audience in my brief that I am the mother of 2 sons who are active duty Marines. They both laugh and tell me they felt like I was their mom up there as they knew their own moms would have said the same thing. They were kinda embarrassed and I said, yes, that's probably the reaction my sons would have. I don't care, I just am a proud mom and so I'm going to let people know it, plus I think it gives me credibility that I am also a military family member. Maybe it's just me.

I have been here a week now. I like it here. There is a calm, gentle feeling to this part of England. And the people aren't bad either.

I miss you, Thom.