The time has been dragging along and I'm still here in the hospital, now the 4th General - the 51st went home. Although I'm in the same hospital.
On November 2nd our orders finally came out - all seventy pointers and me still in the hospital so I nearly went batty. Not knowing whether I was going home on a medical leave and missing shipment was enough to drive anyone nuts. I tried to get released but the doctor wouldn't let me go - said I had to go home as a patient. But there were still tests to be taken - blood tests, fluoroscope and x-ray tests but I believe now I am through. And if I'm lucky should go before the Board tomorrow or the next day at latest. As near as I can figure I'll make it on a boat in ten to fifteen days after the board - so with luck I'll still make it by Christmas or even a little before. I don't want to get to many hopes up though, because something may come up to ruin everything. I'll write June and the folks as soon as I pass that board for good - then I'll be on my way in a few days.
I hope I can always look back and remember what these days of waiting have been like. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas, only more so. Everything about home seems like something that is only a dream and could never happen to me. I'm still wondering if I'm really going home or if it's just a dream I'm thinking up. The mail from home and from June has been very good lately. I've hated to worry them about my being in the hospital but I had to tell them. My condition has improved until I'm practically normal right now. The cankers have gone away. I had the fluoroscope and x-ray earlier this week and was relieved to hear that ulcers were ruled out. The doctors said I had a spasm which indicated a possible nervous stomach or something, but said that except for that he couldn't find a thing. I was relieved because plenty of these boys have ulcers and have them bad and that sets a guy back for the rest of his life. I seldom have heartburn anymore and on the whole I feel good. I need exercise, sadly though it's going to be a struggle to get into shape to play basketball but I'm anxious to play and I think it will be good for me.
I had hoped to enroll in the U of U this winter quarter but it looks like I won't make it now. It will be wonderful to see June again. She seems older and more settled down than she was a year ago. Maybe it's just my imagination though - I'm not sure. I'm looking forward to mom's cooking, going to a game with pop and just talking to him. Seems like he's one of my best friends instead of my dad - I hope to be as good a dad some day as he has been to me.
The 1st of November saw me promoted to staff sergeant. I had given it up entirely - being here in the hospital and everything. FEAF has a rule that a sergeant spend a month in grade before becoming eligible for promotion. Also that a man can't be promoted 15 days before his orders. I broke both the rules but some quirk of fate. The Wacs are all home. Of the old hands I am the only one left - so it is high time I got myself out of these parts too.
This big day is getting closer all the time so it won't be long. I'm going to write again in ten days and see where I am and what I'm doing. Maybe I'll be on a boat?
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