I got to spend two entire days with my parents this weekend, which was awesome. We thoroughly explored the area, and they got to see more of Kansas than planned since I repeatedly got us lost. The highlight of the weekend was by far the Oz Museum, a surprise for my dad that Mom and I had planned.

The trip through the museum began sedately enough, but as we wove our way along the Yellow Brick Road, I noticed a peculiar change come over my parents. It was as if an unseen substance was affecting their behavior.

Needless to say, our presence attracted some attention. Dad quietly submitted to the authorities...

...but Mom kept insisting that nothing unusual was occurring. In fact, she became rather defiant with a local law enforcement officer and attempted to scare him away.

I was relieved when the museum employees let us go peacefully on our way. But as I get ready to deploy, I am very aware of an extremely powerful weapon that, until this weekend, I didn't know I had in my arsenal. When in danger, all I have to do is summon my Flying...Mom-keys.

Gas for the GSA van: $10

Lunch at a good Thai restaurant: $15

Listening to an irate manager order her staff to sing "Happy Birthday":

PRICELESS

I had just finished my PT this morning and was watching a basketball game from the sidelines, cheering as my teammates played against other people from the task force. I thought about the last few weeks and how we have experienced a lot of ups and downs as other people make decisions that affect our lives.

Most of the reasons for my leaving the Army are still glaringly present in my day to day experience. But I'm routinely reminded of the one amazing result of the military lifestyle; it is only in professions like this that a group of total strangers can be thrust together and turned into a cohesive, supportive group that depends on each other to survive.

My team is amazingly diverse. Most of them are from what I consider the "West", although there are a couple of us from the Midwest and East Coast. We range in age from early 20s to mid 50s. Our families range from parents and significant others to children and grandchildren. In our ranks we have college students, police officers, truck drivers, and biochemists. And with all of our differences, we share a common lifestyle and purpose: accomplish the mission, take care of each other, and get back home where we belong!

Nobody can replace the wonderful family I have at home, but for the time being, I'm very appreciative of the Army family I've been given and am blessed to be a member of MNSTC-I Team 10. Once I get my pictures back from my husband, I'll attach a few of my surrogate family so you will see the faces that I see every day!