CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL

I haven't had the muse for the last several days. On Monday, the Soldier I imposed UCMJ on tried to commit suicide in his room with his weapon. This of course brought in the attention of the battalion commander, the Military Police, the brigade chaplain (my friend Rickie, the battalion chaplain went on leave that morning), and everyone else under the sun. Seems he didn't appreciate the extra duty, and the first sergeant making him act like a man... Anyway a good part of my day and everyone's energy was exhausted. MPs took him, filed charges, and then took him to the combat stress experts. Spent some more time with that. Finally got him back to the pad, when I found out Michelle had been to her doctor and had been diagnosed with "Follical Lymphoma, stage 2". This was quit a blow on top of everything.
We had a false alarm with this recently, which actually wasn't a false alarm after all. It did soften the blow some, but cancer is cancer. I am awaiting Michelle visit to her doctor next week to see what the regimen of treatment will be. More than likely, I will be giving up command, and going home. While I don't mind the prospect of leaving Iraq, this is not the way anyone wants to do it. Other than letting my the battalion staff know that we may be doing a change of command soon, I don't have a timetable until I here from the doctor. This will not be fun: will have to finish an OER, and NCOER, an award, and execute a change of command inventory of all the companies assigned equipment. Easier stated here than executed on the ground.
I am presently trying to figure out how to get everything I have accumulated the last five months home. Chief McGee and Eric stand to gain a lot of stuff. Estimate I'll be spending $200-300 just mailing stuff home. Some things I won't see again for almost a year.
No clue as to what my job will be when I return home. Just guessing that I will be working as the deputy/asst/executive officer to the brigade rear detachment commander.
Well it's almost 0100, and I do have church in the morning.