62 Days of Leave Time, What To Do ?

So, I left Germany, and I had an 8 hour flight back to The US of A. As
we were approaching NY, the Captain said that the plane was being re
routed to Newart Airport, we were suppose to land at McQuire Air Force
Base. I haven't been in The States in 3 years, what did I know.

I started thinking, shit now I have to lug my baggage to McQuire AFB,
and leave from there. But wait, they had a shuttle bus that would take
us there for free, no charge. Got on the bus and started talking with
the driver. Told him I was from NY. He asked me why was I going in the
other direction. FUCK !! The driver told me he had to reurn to Newart
airport, so I could ride back. Once I got back there, it was like
everyone had left, it was empty. This guy approached me and pulled out a
knife. I carried a Buck knife on my belt, this was way before 9/11, so
it was legal. I pulled mine out and he ran. Great, first day back and
some one tries to stick me up. Fuck this, I took a cab from the airport
to The Bronx, cost me 80 dollars.

I haven't seen my family in like 3 whole years, so everyone look
different to me, older, aged. But that's suppose to happen right? I didn't think that I had changed at all, but to my family eyes, I did also. They said that I got older, which was true, 3 years older. But a lot was different about me, on the inside. To this day, its still the same. One, I was use to making my own decisons, and staying with them, going by them. I learned in The Army that when you amke a choice, its your choice, your decisions and no one else. Anther thing was that all I cared about was me. I know that sounds selfish, but it isn't. I learned to keep my feelings inside, and not to show them. I wasn't afraid of being hurt or anything, but my feelings are my feelings. I learned to say whats on my mind, not bite my togune so to speak. They couldn't and to this day don't understand this or me, I think. So, my 62 days home on leave was something different and strange to me and those around me.

My family moved to a new neighborhood the day after I went into Basic Training, so I thought I didn't know anyone. I wass wrong, three brothers also lived there that I knew when I was in grade school, The Gamble brothers. Tony, the youngest, was the one that I grew close to. But that relationship was strained also. He was younger than me, and he didn't nor has he experience all the shit that I had in the last 3 years. But we hung out and did stuff together. New York City, The Bronx was all new to me again, but like anything and all the training I have been through, I quickly adapted. My 62 days came and went. My next stop was Fort Dix, NJ. I re enlisted for a new job title, 64 Charlie, Truck Driver, and I was about to enter another training phase.