The first days have come and gone, but the sweat and the smiles remain on our faces. The adjustment period is over and the real adventure begins. I sit in the empty bar at Nomads Noosa hostel relieved to have a few moments of silence to myself and collect my thoughts. The skepticism has mostly worn off, save for the knowledge that this is not my home. I am enjoying myself quite considerably. I am excited to finally share more of the stills I’ve collected in the prior week and even more excited for the stills to come. As much fun it is to consume as much alcohol as possible in a short amount of time, I can’t help but pace with cold beer with cold water and find my body remorsefully thanks me in the early hours of the day. Kyle and I have had the pleasure of meeting many great people circumvented and compared to the pricks that try to poke at my heart. If you can imagine drinking on the smooth and sandy rocks on a pristine beach as the sun sets on our souls with a few lucky ladies, without the time to think of anything else but the strain my cheeks have from our grins. As we look north to continue our journey from Noosa toward Cairns, our dreams of purchasing a 4X4, a guitar, some fishing rods, and some more cold beers (Pabst Blue Ribbon, for the taste reminds us of home, though the effects are the same as is the sun) look promising in fruition. I would sit here and write the other hundred pages of thoughts I have had, but the sand yearns to be in my toes and I recognize the feeling as mutual. I could miss home, but find solace in its forgiving and welcoming arms, she knows I will return so these letters will suffice until the war is over. A battlefield echoing with the chatter of new friends and blasts of laughter. I await another round of rations and yearn for my uniforms to be washed, but will survive.
Peace.
