Thanks guys. On December 15th, I will have 21 years in the USAF. I was a young 25 year old man then, with a new wife. Now I am middle-aged, divorced and raising my daughter pretty much alone. My grandparents all died while I have been gone, and my brother and dad moved to New Mexico. Only mom remains back in Kentucky. There have been some tough lonely times, but if I had to start all over again, I would.
Back in 1987, we were in the middle of the Cold War. The Russian Bears tested our borders almost daily, and we had our missile silos on 24 hour alert. I was at Peterson AFB...ground zero. I could look out the window of my office and see Cheyenne Mountain. If nuclear war came, Cheyenne Mountain is where it would begin and end.
Cheyenne Mountain is now closed or closing. I live in Poland...a place I could never enter back then. I vacationed in Lithuania this year. That was once the Soviet Union. The changes in the World were unimaginable 21 years ago. Change is the only constant in the World.
I completed my training, and am going back to Poland this evening. I still have some preparations before Thanksgiving. I don't know what sort of photos I can take, but if any are allowed, I will share some here. It isn't my idea of a vacation spot, so there may not be any photo ops.
After 21 years, I still love my job, and I am having fun. Thanks again for the good words.
Nelson
