Fast approaching 26 years of age, A new chapter in my life is beginning. My grandfather James A. Kelly served in the Army air corp. during WW2 as a rear gunner on a B-24 bomber, After the war he was in the motor pool. My brother and his wife are both currently enlisted in the USAF, They've both been to war and have returned safely.

I'm currently unemployed and the prospects of a halfway decent paying job in my area is slim. Ever since I was 18 in 2001 just months before 9/11 occured, I'd toyed with the thought of enlisting into the service. Why haven't I? Well... A lot of reasons. None of them really for me now that I think of it.

Family, My Mother is against it since she already has one son in. My Father feels the same I'm sure but he has not said one way or another. Then there's my friends and my strong ties to my current location. But what really keeps me from making that commitment? Fear, I'm scared to do it. But like any fear that I've felt in my life I worked my way through it and get things done.

A couple months ago I contacted an online chat recruiter for the Air national guard. He and I discussed some stuff and he took my info to pass onto an actual (local) recruiter who is supposed to contact me. Strangely I still have not recieved a call from them.

This weekend my brother, Dan and his wife, Sherry came into town to visit. I always enjoy their company, I feel very lucky to have a sister in law who I'd rather call my sister because of how well we get along. I've spoke with them about my plans of enlisting, Perhaps I'll go full time into a different brance of the service if I like it. But joining the A.N.G would be a great start since mainly what I'd like to learn more about and do is done at the Camp Perry which is located within 35 miles of me. The Red Horse Squadron which does civil engineering, builds & rebuilds bases everywhere.

The best part about what they do is the fact that they're very closely tied to the USAF and the deployments of them. So chances are if I got deployed and either/both Dan & Sherry did as well, I'd end up near or at the same place as them!

I guess what I'm getting at is because of my current situation and getting older I'm ready to do what feels right to do, That and I'm used to an expendable income. This unemployment thing sucks ass. My expendable income is about $50 a month right now. And realistically all of that should goo towards bills. But I firmly believe life is meant to be lived.. Not just getting through it.

So Happy Memorial Day! Thank your closest military member for what they do and no matter what realize that someone else has it worse than you do.
I'll leave you with a couple photos of our denny's adventure last night.

Danny


Sherry