I appreciate the info, everyone. Right now, I'm looking at a possible job as a yard spotter... wish me luck with everything working out on that. I've contacted a local group for truckers here in NC, and things actually seem to be going surprisingly well. At the moment, my biggest obstacle to overcome is going to be my family. I'm going back to Finland to visit them next month, and I kinda hate to say this, but I've been keeping them a bit in the dark on things. They know I was in the military from 98 - 02, but weren't aware that I remained in reserve components since, they don't know I was in Irak, and I have to figure out whether to disclose everything (and risk them having one hell of a fit over it), or simply trying to hide the fact that I'm missing a good portion of my leg. I already wear long pants year round, so that might not seem to unusual, but they're bound to realise that the way I walk now isn't exactly normal.... well, cross my fingers, and hope for the best, right? :lol:

 

Best of Luck with the job!

As for the family, you know them better than I do. But speaking as a mother, I'd be heartbroken over your injury, grateful you were still alive, and mad as hell that you didn't tell me! But that's just me. Good Luck with the family situation too and enjoy your trip back home.


Reb

 

Yeah, it all gets a little complicated. My parents are real pacifists, and I suppose my grandfather's to blame for that. He fought in the Winter War (a.k.a, the Russo-Finnish war), and he really had it in for the Russians, let me tell you. Adding a somewhat black chapter to that history of his, he also ended up enlisting in the SS to fight the Russians, once again... anyhow, he'd always share his stories of fighting the Russians, and the way he told the stories, it would get someone real fired up, and I'd practically be begging him to jump across the border with me so that we could pick a fight with them. "Perkele! We'll take Karelia back!" :lol: Needless to say, they were somewhat pleased when I chose to stay in America with relatives, because it effectively helped me evade Finnish conscription.. but that subsided soon enough when they found out that I'd enlisted in the US Army... about eight months or so after I came off of active duty, and served a tour in Afghanistan . So they should be absolutely tickled pink when they find out about this. And they're really not ones to pry, so they might assume it was just an automotive accident or something of that sort, but my sister, on the other hand... she nags and nags, and essentially makes it damn near impossible to withhold information from her.
On the bright side, I've got it made when Halloween comes around. I've already got half of my pirate costume completed, courtesy of Haaji. Shiver me timbers!

 

Families are always complicated, that's why we have friends. We get to pick them. :wink:

I'm so glad to see that your sense of humour hasn't diminished. You're going to be a blast at Halloween! :twisted:

Reb

 

Well, I could mope about, and expect others to feel pity for me, but that's simply useless, and it's just not my way. I tend to laugh everything off, which can be a double edged sword sometimes, but it's just a part of who I am. I was making jokes about it even as I was being loaded on the medevac flight, and that was before they began doping me up :P Granted, I didn't realise exactly what had happened to me at the time, and my humour may not have held up so well if I had, but anyhow..

For me, the only downside with Halloween (or any other occasion which is cause for people to attend parties) is that I can always expect phone calls at inconvenient hours from people too drunk to drive themselves home, because they know I don't drink. Aside from that, I always have a blast at Halloween

 

I know i saw a truck pull in once, after a few minutes side of sleeper opened up and wheelchair elevator lowered the driver in wheelchair to the ground, absolutely fascinating how it was constructed. Was suprised because I did nt think the feds would allow it but I always say if you can do the job more power to ya.

From One trooper to another, glad to hear you have a sense of humor about it, you are in our prayers.

 

Thank you. I appreciate that.

I kinda would like to see that.. just to see how it's set up, mind you - I can still move about on my own. I remember once when MTO officers in Ontario were telling me about one driver who was hooked up to a liquid oxygen system, and was still able to drive a truck.. in fact, they claimed that his license was restricted to where he could only drive a truck. Now, whether it's true, exaggerated, or just plain BS is anyone's guess, although I have to admit some degree of skepticism when I heard that.

Anyhow, I received this in my inbox today, and thought I'd share it with everyone. The members of my squad can be a bunch of bastards when they want to be, and that's what makes them so great.

 

That's funny, sort of. When my Grandfather didn't want my Grandmother to go anywhere, he would hide her leg before he left for work. She would call screaming for us to come and find it. :shock:

A friend of mine who lost his leg in a car accident, likes to argue. Somewhere during the argument he'll grab a knife and stab it into his leg and just leave it there. Freaks people out every time. :twisted:

We all adapt and overcome in our own way. :wink:

 

I can see why she'd be screaming. I'd be quite pissed off if someone did that to me. My sense of humour does have its limitations after all.
BUT... I can laugh, just so long as it's happening to someone else, and not me

See, that would still hurt me. I still have most of my leg.. it's just a section below the knee which was... you might say forcibly removed. But, if my neighbour's dog decides to bite at my ankle again, I'm covered (just so long as it's on that particular side).

I wonder if I could attach an electric egg beater to mine? Then, if I learned to cook, perhaps I could even have my own cooking show. Kinda like that guinea Emeril... although I lack his people skills. Well, I'd just have to adapt and overcome in my own way, right?