A Chapter Closing · 7:26pm Oct 16th, 2017
So.
Six years ago today, a nervous young man carrying a duffel bag and a packet of papers arrived in front of a dormitory in the midnight of San Antonio. He didn't know exactly what the future held, but he wanted to do his duty to his country, and had decided the Air Force was the way to do it. It would not be a pleasant eight weeks from the time of his arrival to the time of his final departure, but I'd like to think the young man learned something there. A sense of bearing, maybe, or a newfound ability to listen.
Soon after this, he found himself quite alone, a shock after his two months in tight proximity to others. Not really sure what to do with himself, other than to attend his studies on a hill overlooking Monterey, California, the young man felt a growing sense of helplessness, a strange anger and impotence swirling inside. For much of his life he had defined himself by opposition. Now, there was nothing to oppose except his own failings. Bored, tired, and stressed one night, he decided to pull up a video of a well-known children's show.
Six months later, he would publish his first piece of fanfiction, An Oath, and not long after that a story that most of you will know. He'd leave the school overlooking the bay, and travel instead to a new school, a school on the Gulf Coast of the United States, where he learned how to maintain a computer.
Six months after that, he arrived in Washington DC, where he would remain for several years. Here he would finish the story he had started in Biloxi, Dusk's Dangerous Game, and make new friends. And he still carried with him the lessons this show had taught him. Be kind to others. Be truthful and forthright. Put the needs of others ahead of your own when you should. And still he wrote.
Then came a desert, and a choice.
Today marked the end of my six year contract in the Air Force. It's the closing of a chapter, and the start of another. I plan to go into the Reserves, get a job here in DC, and go to school. We'll see what happens. I had a plan when I arrived in San Antonio, too, and it didn't end in Washington DC. I'm more than a little sad to see the end of it. But I'm also excited to see what happens next.
And, I promise, I shall begin to write in earnest again. If I am to be truthful, I rather suspect I'll have a surplus of free time for a while.
Comments below, as always. If you want to talk about what I've written, here or in other blogposts and stories, I shall be around. If you want to talk about other things, then I'll be happy to talk about them, too!
A fellow former member of the Air Force! Welcome back to civilian life! There will be some adjusting, of course, and the period varies on the individual. Still, finding work beyond the military can be a challenge. Hopefully beyond schooling, you have an idea of what you want to do and pursue it in earnest.
Good luck and get to writing, you slacker!
4699689
Hey, figured I'd find at least one former military! Work shouldn't be hard, I'm a telecommunications specialist in DC, but I'm definitely going nose to the grindstone until I land a steady job.
I do hope things go well for you. Starting a new part of your life is always hard. Stay safe and stay strong.
Best of luck to ye
Good to have you around again, Air. Best of luck with your newfound freedom in DC!
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.
But did you ever manage to beat the world record for most oatmeal made in a day? This is the important stuff!
Just kidding. Following you and fangirling over your writing the past few years has been a pleasure. Congratulations on starting a new chapter. Thank you for choosing to share it all with us.
Glad to have you back! Good luck on your future endeavors!
Haven't spoken to you in some time.
I hope you're doing alright.
I'm glad that you were able to get through your enlistment in one piece.
Best of luck returning to civilian life.
I'll be staying in for awhile.
Good luck in your future endeavors sir. I only just discovered your stories, and have been binge reading them this week (I am nearly caught up as I started the current book this morning) I hope that this new chapter of your life brings you fulfillment and happiness (and enough time to write more, as I really love your writing style and characters).
All the best Airstream!
4699692 I have a question about your fanfics.
Is Stormsinger a direct sequel of Dusk's Dangerous Game or is it more like Hobbit and Lord of The Rings, where the stories are in the same settings and have some loose links to each other, but each have their own story ark?
I hope things worked out for you.
I'd wish you luck, but I don't subscribe to it, nor chance, coincidence, etc. But the sentiment is there all the same!
Perhaps better to wish you success, and some joy in the quieter moments of transition from one season to the next.
I have it on good authority from a friend who works in the field that DC has lots of Space jobs these days, both private sector, and government... Higher Further Faster! Who can resist the call of the final frontier?
Also learn Python. If you know Python, learn Ruby and some form of SQL query language.
That's the best career advice I can offer second-claw/hoof as a backend programmer who has occasionally had a peek into the wild world of intra-sol-system navigation programs.