FRIDAY, JUNE 4th.

The 390th day of CPT Patti's deployment. One year, three weeks, three days.

Generally, it has been a cool spring here in Germany. To such an extent that it is only today that the roses outside my office are at full bloom. This is late by my standards. Growing up in South Carolina I could count on Dad cutting rosebuds from the bush for each of us to wear on our lapels on Easter Sunday.

So...the roses are late, but they are beautiful. And I'm wishing CPT Patti could see them. She hasn't seen roses in bloom since 2002.