Ahh yes, rum and coke. How I’m going to need you in these next few days. I will return to Okinawa, Japan on Thursday meaning I will leave the States in the morning of Wednesday. Its going to be hell to get back into the ‘ol swing of things. I won’t be the same person. Being outbound is something completely different then just going back to your old work. With less then a year left in my Marine Corps career I am starting to look at things more closely now. I won’t have a steady paycheck, I won’t have free medical, free dental, nor will I have that drive that I get everyday I wake up telling me, Hey! You better double check yourself before you leave your room, is your uniform straight? Is your shave good? Is your room clean? But these things will be replaced with much more complicated ( at least I think so ) routines.

I see myself being that guy that wakes up with a mild hang-over because of our old friend, Crown, with a 5 o’clock shadow on his face and that morning eye, only its about 10 something. ( That ain’t morning to Marines! Thats about 4 hours after morning! ) Suited in some nylon shorts and a white T, armed with a trashbag full of garbage, my mission is to get the trash to the can before the garbage truck gets there. And here it comes! I run to the can at my sidewalk, only to find myself stepping in the juices leaking from my bag. And when that day comes, I’ll make sure to soak my foot good!

Simple pleasures like this is what I am waiting for, and I’ve waited for awhile, and I’ve planned for awhile. I now find that my plans are invalid with what choices I have made in the past year. And again, I am Straddling betweeen two people. Although I know which choice I am going to make, I still feel obligated to please the other, this time, its between the two most important females in my life. My girlfriend and my Mom. Here is the dilema.

When I get out of the Marine Corps, my Mom wants me to go home, to San Antonio, Texas and begin school and get a decent job. She says this way, I can get our house and when Hiromi comes to the States, we have everything ready. Nothing for her to worry about. On the other hand, I got Hiromi’s Mom saying that she is allowed to marry me, but she doesn’t want her to leave Okinawa for at least a few years. What is a few? I don’t know, but Hiromi makes it sound likes its three or two. I hope she and her Mother are on the same wavelenght about that one. She says stay in Japan for awhile, then go to the States, this way, any “problems” or bumps that may occur can be hashed out with her family. This is greatly due to the bad taste American marriages have left in her Mom’s memory.

Americans will marry their Japanese girlfriend and take them back to the States, away from any Japanese speaking friends or family. When they fight, the American is free to talk to anyone of his friends, but for the Japanese girl, it ain’t so easy. Its hard to cope with everyone you know thousands of miles away… Cited: Hiromi

So, our plan is, stay in Okinawa, get a bigger apartment, and find a nice job where I don’t have to know that much Japanese and can get by with a few phrases and words. Live it out for a “few” years and then move to the States when we feel comfortable with lives, financially and emotionally. And this is the one I am going with. I feel sorry for my Mom because she’s been without me for so long but a few more years won’t hurt right? Gosh, a few? I mean, I’ll visit. Or, I’ll try to visit…see what I mean? Looks like I’m going to need ALOT of rum and cokes.