(Just Plain) Erin Cooper

It’s hard to express how strange these past few days have been. I’m not really feeling that sad, which is an improvement. Yesterday was the first Sunday in ages where I didn’t go to bed with that feeling of dread about the next day. I spent my first weekend as a free woman livin’ it up with Tim. We had a fancy schmancy dinner at Cucina Colore on Thursday night. It was nice, but I really wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. The gravity of the situation was just hitting me and I wasn't feeling like myself... (for the record, my normal self LOVES Cucina Colore, their veal is to die for...)

But Friday I felt better, did some cleaning and laundry, hung out with Dane and had some drinks at the Irish Hound. Saturday was a blast. Tim and I went rock climbing for the first time together along with our friends Charleigh, Jeff and Jenny. Then that night we all went out to North and had a wonderful dinner. By yesterday I was feeling pretty happy about everything. Sheila came over to show me her wedding dress (it's LOVELY!) and then we logged some serious hours at the Cherry Creek Mall being girly. By bedtime last night, I really started to feel some sense of peace.

I know I'm not doing this alone. I have a wonderful husband who is an amazing support to me, I have great friends who provide so much love, laughter, and excitement in my life. And I have a paper shredder with which I can shred anything I want. I am sooo ready to do this...

I spent a little bit of time this morning working out an invoicing method for Tim’s projects. I cleaned out my desk at home and tried to get things set up so that I can work comfortably here at home. I think I’m finally starting to wrap my head around the huge change that is happening. It’s difficult because I feel like I’m still looking back a little bit. I’m not completely done with out-processing, so once that I really finished, I will probably feel a bit more closure.

And in other news, I think I need to get back on the wagon with my Pilates. I was watching Madonna on the Europe MTV awards and this woman… I mean, she’s older than my mom, and she doesn’t have an ounce of cellulite on her! Anyway, it’s back on the workout wagon for me.

I also wanted to say to those of you who have called and emailed me with support for my decision, I really really appreciate it. I think that deciding to leave the military, for me, was more difficult than deciding to join. Knowing that the people I care about think I can do it out here on my own, is very uplifting. You have helped me more than you know...

Thanks,

~e