Okay, I know you don’t miss me but I figured I would ask.  I also figured I’d take this chance to actually write something while I was in a different state (actually, half way across the country).  It is my last night in South Carolina and I’m sad to be going home (but excited to get back, all the same).  The coolest part of my trip was getting to spend time with my cousin, his wife and 4 of the greatest kids I know.  It was good to have so much family down for the weekend.  Being able to travel some place where their lifestyle is so different and being able to be a part of their lives really makes for a vacation you’ll never forget.  My cousin Ryan has been in the Marines for 16 years now and his family calls South Carolina home.  They have a pond in their back yard and had to fence off around the pond because of the 12 foot gator that likes to come in the yard and sun bath.  I always assumed this was a tame gator but he actually ate some one’s dog at some point.  They go fishing a lot, but they fish for blue crabs, shrimp and oysters.  We ate some great food while we were down here and never had to go to a restaurant to get it.  I got to go golfing at another great golf course and spend a day down on the river front in Savanna, Georgia after eating at Paula Dean’s restaurant.  We stayed in a beach house in St. Helena, South Carolina.  One of the coolest things was getting to see where my cousin works and seeing his pictures and hearing his stories.  You have to realize this trip was sort of a “surprise” party for Ryan who just got back from Iraq.  The planning went on for months and seeing how surprised he was to see a bunch of family walk through the garage into his back patio was pretty cool.  He’s spent 16 years of his life making sure you and I get to have the freedoms we have.  There are a lot of “anti-war” people in this world (and that’s fine because I’m not pro-war) but if you cannot stand by the troops that protect us and put their lives on the lane for you, then you don’t really belong in this country.  Ryan took us down to the Marines base to show us the hanger where he works (he’s a Staff Sergeant and one of the Chief Mechanics).  Knowing there is only 4 people that have the authority to okay a plane to leave that base, whether it be for a sporting event fly-over or military mission, and he is one of those 4 people, that really is a pretty cool.  The interesting thing is he showed us the board of the planes in his squadron and told us four of the hornets would be returning today.   At 4:00, two sets of two F-18s flew overhead while we were walking the beach by the beach house.  They were coming in to the base and sure enough, those were his planes.  Honestly, I can’t wait to come back to South Carolina.  Time for bed… I have to get up in about 3 hours to shower, pack up, drive to Charleston, South Carolina and start flying home.  I do miss my comfy bed back home.