By Braxton Wolfe
Sailors don’t talk about-
The culture shock of coming home from the ship and having to relearn how to be a part of society.
The moments you spend re-examining yourself in the mirror because you forgot what you really looked like out of the uniform.
The bruises, cuts and scars from working in the harshest environments and conditions.
Wearing normal clothes is the most comfortable feeling on earth. Even the jeans you barely fit into anymore.
Getting sick every time you come home because you are able to eat civilized food again and drink your favorite drinks.
Getting dressed with the lights on.
Amazed at how you lose so much weight without trying.
Having to sleep with a fan on because the room you are in now is too silent.
Suddenly being thankful for literally everything you own and experience in a normal day.
Showering without shoes on.
The water is a normal hot, and doesnt switch to ice cubes then to burning steam before losing pressure. And no water rationing hours!
Folding laundry while sitting on the bed.
General Quarters! Man your battle stations!
Not being able to sleep because we are catching jets and you have to make sure that you hear them catch the wire… retract. The pilot is safe.
Not being able to sleep because youre no longer in rough seas. The bed is still and the room isnt moving. Its quiet.
Man overboard. They didn’t say it was a drill this time. Everyone gets to their stations a little quicker to make sure their guys are good.
Evening prayer.
You probably don’t notice how often you hit your head anymore.
“Medical emergency in compartment…” silence. Do I know anyone in that compartment? I hope they are okay, nothing major.
I don’t remember the last time I was alone in a room for more than 10 minutes.
Fire, Fire, Fire!…. These things are always catching on fire.
Coming home in a different season. The grass is green now. They harvested all the corn fields.
Oh! She had her baby, bless her heart.
Wow. It’s been years…where was I?
“First call. First call to colors.”
Coming home from all of this is going to be so hard yet so easy.
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