When is enough actually enough?

That question has been on my mind a lot lately as I press forward into my second year in Iraq- I’m a few days short of fourteen months. I’ve taken two breaks in that time- once to Greece and the other back to the States.

I’d originally planned to do just a year and then come back and take the bus (VW camper) across the country, spending a couple of months traveling Americas Blue Highways. Well as plans go it seemed a good one and quite frankly I still think it is, but plans change and since I finally figured out what direction I want to be heading I’m ready to go that way.

So with that in mind, what do I need to do to make that happen? Well obviously school is quite expensive both paying for it and the usual bills, so making money has taken precedence. I had decided that I’d stay here through October but each day that seems to still be a long way away. Yes, it’s only sixty four days but when every day is Groundhog Day it seems to take forever. This last month has been one of the slowest I’ve spent here.

It’s not for lack of excitement from the local bad guys, they decided to remind us that they were still here this past week with a couple of party poppers. Luckily we’re all doing fine. I wish the Iraqi government would decide on a constitution though. Hopefully, if they keep pushing forward, the people will see that they aren’t backing down to the threats and they will continue to support them.

Anyways, I’m still in my routine- wake early, exercise, work, lunch, read and then bed. Getting up seems to be harder to do though as I seem to have lost some of my drive. I think I’m just ready to move on; I’m not learning much new, just earning a living. I’m even having a hard time getting motivated to read my books and I really want to.

I keep telling myself “Hang in there, you can do it.” I know I can; I know I will. It’s just one more step in this journey.