My palms began to sweat and my heart was racing so fast it felt like it could explode. This is the opportunity I had waited for but yet I was afraid. With my voice cracking with excitement and nervousness all in one I ensured him I would be there. He gladly excused himself, once again getting that smirk over my wonderful choice of clothing I found and never let me live down.
I quickly get out of those ridiculous clothes and change into my military issued uniform. I grab my coat and bags from next to the front door, not helping but notice the fact that they sure felt a lot heavier at that time of the morning. I finally made my way through the two foot snow drifts to my truck and throw my bags in the back. Of course not without almost slipping and falling on the ice. The cold air made it hard to breath, especially at that time of the morning and I immediately thought of how much I hoped we were going somewhere warm. It had been snowing for three days straight and I needed a break. I was about tired of my hands freezing to the plane. As I slid the key in the ignition and turned it over my truck let out a groan as I tried to start it. I am sure it had the same excitement I had about being up at this time. Finally I get it started and slowly make my way on base and I mean slowly. It was snowing so hard by the time I headed out I had to follow the street lights which you could barely see through the blinding snow. As I pulled up to the hanger and unload I notice a few of my buddies Hank and Wayne were also there. This of course put me a little more at ease because this was their first assignment also. .
Hank was a talk skinny kid with broad shoulders, a large forehead and sunken in eyes who always thought his answer was the right answer. He was from some back woods town in Montana. I mean so back woods that he said he had been past the Unabomber's shack numerous time while hunting.