This weekend was the first weekend that I had drill since I've been back from Iraq. I was finally reunited with a family that was formulated in the midst of a war that was both supported and protested against by our folks back home. It was good seeing my fellow brothers and sisters in green (now the new digital print). One could tell that the deployment did us all well - financially. The parking lot in front of our drill hall was filled with an assortment of new cars and trucks. Even, I, had a new car, but I assure you that it wasn't by choice. The old Buick Regal just got sick and tired of being sick and tired, my mother would sometimes say. We had our welcoming back ceremony and it went off without incident. Some or troops had shown thier dedication to their state and country over the past week or so for participating in the local flood relief effort in Greenville. Though the flood wasn't life threatening, it did deserve the special attention of our American Heros. These soldiers were awarded. At the end of the our week, we had to hit the pumps on our way home. I was on about one quarter of a tank and I had 175 miles to go. I pull up and I slide my credit card in and start pumping. Nothing. That sudden jerk that I was expecting when the gas began gushing never happened. I'm like "What's going on?" I hit the call box and ask the attendant what's going on. She replied sharply, "There's a big sign out front that says we're out of gas sweetie." An eery feeling came over me. I began to wonder about all the other gas stations, were they out of gas too? I stepped out from under the gas pavillion to take a closer look at that sign in order to verify my fears. It was there in bold read, "NO GAS". Seeing that sign that said they were out of gas was an eye opener. I hadn't see that type of urgency since hurricane Katrina. The next six gas stations were out of gas as well. That's when I instantly thought "I'm glad I bought a Nissan." I had a feeling that I could at least make it to Grenada (a whopping 80 miles away). We all realize how things like the war in Iraq, natural desasters, and offshore drilling can effect the economy. But do we think about how it can effect us. The litlle things like having enough gas to make it to work, buying pampers for a newborn, buying groceries are what's important. Is it going to come down to us giving up our way of life in order to survive? Big cars, big wheels, big houses are a part of the American way. It's so much the American way that there's a saying that goes a little something like "Everything's always bigger down in Texas." Before I left my hotel that day, I talked with the receptionist while she processed my bill. She began complaing about her job and how due to the lack of people checking in, her hours were scaled down. She went from working six days per week to three days per week. Her check reflected that and for the past month, she's been "robbing Peter to pay Paul." In other words, she was forced to use money set aside to pay her light bill to put gas in the car. She had to choose between buying groceries for her children or paying her rent. Her story really drove home the fact that things aren't all roses. More importantly, her story was not much different than a lot of other struggling Americans, whether it be a full family, single parent home, newly weds, or a singular person. We're all struggling. The question is "How long will we have to suffer?" That's an excellent question. How much of our lives will we be forced to give up in order to preserve the ideals of our leadership?