4 years ago today

22 FEB 2013 - I separated from the US Army and began the process of becoming a lazy fucking civilian productive member of society in the conventional sense instead of as a trigger puller. I maintain that my time in service was one of the best things that ever happened to me - I made some lifelong homies, got to jump out of planes and blow shit up, and had the opportunity to travel to a very strange and beautiful part of the world, meet interesting people from a fascinating ancient culture, and exchange gunfire with them. Pretty much an ideal enlistment for an infantry dude.

Since then, I've nearly completed a degree in a major that greatly interests me and provides real job opportunities, which is something. I've made a lot of new friends that have become family (ya fucking weirdos), continued to develop friendships I've had for a decade or more (ya fucking weirdos), and excised the toxic and useless people from my life (cunts). I've got the best dog, a great family, a beautiful house, and a bunch of cool shit that I don't need but certainly enjoy.

No, I'm not going to say what everyone thinks I'm gonna say, because I'm a rabid atheist and I'm trying to minimize my hypocrisy when given the option. I am not #blessed. I am lucky as fuck, and there is no way around that except to confront it, own it, and be grateful for it, because there's no human quality I loathe more than entitlement.

So to everyone who has been helpful and supportive of me, been a friend to me when I need it, and continues to put up with my incessant bullshit, you have my undying gratitude. I won't lie - Hans (my dog) is the real reason I get up every morning, but you people make life way more fucking tolerable on a daily basis.

Much love, you animals.

Have an airborne day.