Back to reality.

Is there ever a good time to die? I'm sure everyone has different opinions on that, but I know this, I'm thankful that my Aunt Nina died while I was home on leave. That sounds weird to say and it feels weird to write. Here's the basics - diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1985, former book editor at Newsday in New York, and more recently editor of Book World for the Washington Post. Incredibly sharp, witty, and more importantly, family. Ours is a family of readers, and she took it and ran with it. She'd been ill for years and in hospice since February. She took a turn for the worse the Monday after I got home, and then died on Thursday morning, May 6th, the day before here 70th birthday. I was hoping to be able to see her. I was not successful, arriving in DC hours after she died. However, that being said, I was able to be there for the funeral. I was able to see family. I was able to tell my daughter about her. I was able to see many great pictures of her life, which included great pictures from my grandparent's place, Mill Point, in North Carolina.

Life and timing are never perfect. There's never a perfect time to buy a home, never a perfect time to go back to school, never a perfect time to have a baby. This was pretty good timing.

So, I left home on a Monday morning around 8 a.m. and arrived back at KAF at 3 a.m. on Thursday. It was a long trip, but if you have a good book (as my Aunt would agree) then it makes travel much more palatable.

I get back to work which feels a bit like having my parole revoked...not that I know anything about that. When I started writing this a couple of days ago we were up to our ears in the final stages of the move into the new hospital. As of today, we moved into the new hospital. After the fun and games last night (type Kandahar Attack May 2010 in google and see what pops up), it is nice to be in a brick&mortar hospital that is rated as a bunker. While the leap in technology and facilities is amazing, I did like the tent/plywood hospital.

The best part about returning to Kandahar is without a doubt the fact that I have now entered the final stage of this deployment. The final stage that will end with another really long plane ride, followed by goofy giggles, grins and hugs from Naomi, Jonah and Ruth...and a bitter dog who wonders why she has to give up part of the bed. I can't wait!