I may have to back out of my build for now :(

[fsstnotch]

Well.. it is certainly not for sure yet, But I have a feeling that I may have to back out of my cobra build. As alot of you are aware, I am currently in Iraq. I've been here since June 10th and I've been away from my wife and daughter since May 15th. I'm scheduled for vacation November 1st until Nov 24th but I'm not so sure I am going to come back. Me being here is making me crazy! At first I was ok, but missing my family is overwhelming me at this point and I am seriously going crazy! Possibly even close to manic at this point! One of the guys who arrived here about 2 weeks before me, was arrested and taken off in a straight jacket because he couldn't take this place anymore, and feared his life to the point that he wouldn't go outside! He turned in his resignation this morning and begged for a helo out! When they told him the next helo wasn't until 8pm, he lost it, started pleading to leave and then went to his room and attempted to hurt himself so that he could get medevaced!! I am stronger than that.. but I don't think I can come home on vacation, be with my wife and 18mo daughter and then come back here for 6 months to finish my contract! Call me a coward.. call me whatever! I don't care anymore! Owning a cobra has been my dream for my entire life and if it isn't enough to drive me to stay... nothing is! My goal when I came here was to be debt free, save a bunch of money for my family's future, and build my dream car. I've accomplished at least some of that at this point but being here is destroying my mentality, my marriage, and my life! I just can't do it anymore! My family is worth much more than a cobra or a little money in the bank! I'm only 25 so there is plenty of time to fulfill the cobra dream! I would much rather fulfill it with my family intact than without!

So, I am most likely going to be dropping out of the cobra race for a while! I'm gonna keep posting here and continue checking out everyone's cars! This is a great forum with some great people!

Bottom line... I served 6 years active duty and i can not make it through 1 year of this as a civilian making significantly more than the military. I commend the hell out of the guys in uniform around here! Most of you have no idea the stress they endure everyday!

[Tommy]

I guess it's a lot tougher to endure something when you have the option of walking away. I wish you the best with whatever you decide to do.

[fsstnotch]

Thanks Tommy! you are right! It is alot easier to walk away when it's an option... or at least an easier option! Most of the guys in uniform have a way to get out... it's just not as unconsequencial!

[Jerry Clayton]

Best of luck to you---thanks for your service--
My nephew Donnie's unit is on the way home now, we're going to the parade next week. From the news it appears that some things are heating up over there

Jerry

[Silverback51]

Wow, that is tough.

Here is how I view things relative to work. I don't care how much I'm paid. If I'm not happy doing the job, it's not worth it. Period.

In my current assignment, I work on average 60 to 70 hours per week, but I love it. It's challenging, and we are attempting to do something that has never been done before.

You are young and have a lot of time ahead of you. I drove an original Cobra back when I was 16. I had wanted one ever since. Took me 39 years to do it. You have plenty of time. Take care of your wife and daughter, as it sounds to me that the job is not worth it to you.

Best of luck in your decision.

[Joe Wicked]

You should never feel the need to explain or justify yourself. If you do not want to be there, then the reason really does not matter. You served time in the military, and saw an opportunity to do something that you wanted to do. You gave it a shot, and at least achieved part of your goal. Good Job. Stay safe and come home to your family. The rest will wait. I have been dreaming of this car for 25 years and I am now seeing myself being about 2 years away from starting. I have thought about quitting my job and getting on over there, but i know I would not be able to last a year there. It would not be worth it to me. Happiness in what you do is worth more than any amount of money I have discovered.

Good luck and don't do what I did. I could have had it a few years ago, but I had given up on the dream and never made the steps to get to where i needed to be to do it. I am now making those steps, but I had to turn around and back track a little first since I went another direction.

[fsstnotch]

Well... after sitting here all day while my wife was sleeping.. just letting it all build up.....! I just got off the phone with the one person that could calm me down! Boy do I love that woman! I don't know what I'd do without her! I think I could hear her jaw drop when i told her that i didn't care if i ever owned a cobra.. I just can't stay here! But she calmed me down and assured me that things would be ok. I definitely feel much better now. I'm still not sure if I will come back. I'm putting my resume out there and we'll see what offers I get. I don't NEED to come back here for the last 6 months... but it sure would be nice for our future. My wife and i will have to sit down and weigh out all the possibilities while I'm home! See.. the 2nd 6 months are going to be the hardest I think.. Christmas, my daughters 2nd birthday, those are big days that I won't be around for!

Jerry, I figured Donnie was probably on his way out just by the recent movement. I hope he makes it home soon! I won't be too far behind even if I do decide to come back for the 2nd 6 months.

Thanks for the support guys!

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

You should never feel the need to explain or justify yourself. If you do not want to be there, then the reason really does not matter. You served time in the military, and saw an opportunity to do something that you wanted to do. You gave it a shot, and at least achieved part of your goal. Good Job. Stay safe and come home to your family. The rest will wait. I have been dreaming of this car for 25 years and I am now seeing myself being about 2 years away from starting. I have thought about quitting my job and getting on over there, but i know I would not be able to last a year there. It would not be worth it to me. Happiness in what you do is worth more than any amount of money I have discovered.

Good luck and don't do what I did. I could have had it a few years ago, but I had given up on the dream and never made the steps to get to where i needed to be to do it. I am now making those steps, but I had to turn around and back track a little first since I went another direction.

Thanks Joe, you must have posted while I was typing! As of right now, I'm going to try to stick it out probably. My wife and I are going to buy a new house after the new year, so with any hope the buying process and furnishing and all that junk will help time go by alot quicker! She really wants me to build the cobra because she thinks "it's cool," wait till she gets a ride! haha then I'll report back what she REALLY thinks! But she also knows it meant alot to me to build the car while I'm young and we can enjoy it fully.

Thanks again for everyone's comments!

[Joe Wicked]

I am a firm believer in no-one can live your life for you, so the only people who's opinion should matter to you are those that are closest to you. If you do decide to come home, start a Cobra fund. I have created a list of tools and equipment that I need to be able to do my build. I am buying this stuff as I can, once that list if fulfilled, I am doing 2 things, 1 paying off my Mustang faster, so I can get to the point of saving more money quickly, and 2 putting money into a second savings account that I solely created for the Cobra.

[fsstnotch]

Ya, that's pretty much the plan. I have been buying some things here and there, bought my 408 kit, and some march pulleys because they popped up on the mustang board cheap! All brand new parts. I'm putting a little money into my wifes expedition now. It needs some tires pretty bad so I'm going to buy her some new wheels too. Bought some new struts and a 3" lift for it also. Should definitely make it ride better.

if I do end up not coming back here, I will definitely be starting a cabra savings account!

[ERA2188]

Fsstnotch. You're 25 years old and have a wife you love and a daughter. You are already extremely wealthy, as many people search their lives and are never able to obtain either. Return to the USA and use your background to the best that you can to get into a position that you actually enjoy. Every day is a gift .. and should be used with that understanding. You can always get a kit and build as you have funds. Then you have a cobra to drive, and you can always upgrade in a few years. There are many here that started with a more modest vehicle than they aspired to, and enjoyed the one they could afford, and upgraded when convenient. Good luck. Rickd

[imagine2frolic]

Sometimes just venting is a huge release. When that release comes it can be a whole lot easier to think.

I am not familiar with your situation there. Are you a contractor? If so, maybe it is time to realign your prioities? Money is a lot, but not everything. I gave up nearly $200,000.00 to keep my peace of mind, and regain my happiness.

I carried a pistol on my job, and I am only a mufflerman. After 4 years I realized I was either going to be killed, or kill someone. I gave up the money, and took what I had to go sailing in the islands for 4 years without an income..

I have had to start over, but the alternative was not the answer. Either dead, or in prison. Don't get me wrong I didn't walk away broke. I paid cash for my sailboat, and my home. Still $200,000.00 is still $200,000.00. Good luck with your decision, and get home safely.

[fsstnotch]

Venting is definitely a help! My priorities have always been my wife and daughter, I just didn't realize just how hard it would be to be away for so long! When i was still around them.. "it was just a year".. Now it's... "A WHOLE FREAKIN YEAR!" haha I think I can make it now... I was really freaking out earlier though!

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

Josh,

Man I know ther feeling. Here I sit north of you,and I can feel your pain. I have been here for about 10 days and I really miss my family. But I know they are ok and the sacrifice I make today will be worth it down the road. I have been married for 19 years and both my kids are much older, but the distance and the being away still takes its toll. The cobra will always be there, but birthdays, anniversaries and Holidays can never be replaced.

I still have 8 months to go on my year long deployment. I talk to my wife and kids daily even ifs only for a few minutes. It make my day. It gets me through the loneliness and stressfull times. I know the conditions you live in and I what you face. Be glad you your not dodging mortars.

Things will work out and it sounds like you have the best person in your corner, which is your wife. I know mine deserves all the credit for this deployment. They deserve the medals and the recognition. I volunteered for this almost 26 years ago. If you stay I hope to meet you in Bucca. I will be coming down your way to viist my troops. I have your pad location so I can look you up and we talk cobras, and brag about our wife and kids.

Right now the best medicine besides my family, is these forum and the wonder people in the Texas Cobra club. My wife gets a calls and emails from the club asking if she needs any help. That's why we say in Texas its the people not the cars.

Becareful and you can PM and I will get you my email addy and we can trade cobra stories.

Gregg H
Located some where in Disney Sand-Bagdad

[fsstnotch]

Hey Gregg! Glad you made it! I'll PM you my email addy. I do have one thing going for me.. I run the comm on the base so I do talk to my wife usually an hour or more per day! But it's not the same as actually being there! You know that! You know, i don't know how many times I've said the wives should get the awards! They really do go through hell alot of times! Even when i was in! I remember when I took my wife to the monster trucks in OKC a couple years back while I was still in, it was military night so all military was free. She was so upset because they wouldn't let her in without a ticket. She about told them off! haha I'm very lucky to be at Bucca, not 1 mortar since I've been here. We did ahve a little gun fire last night though. Hopefully not a sign of things to come!

This forum was the best medicine for me too! I was not really getting stressed out until it was down all last week! thanks Brent! you saved my sanity!

[Joe Wicked]

Just keep your eye on the important things. Remember you can always come up with another way to get the Cobra.

[fsstnotch]

Most definitely! That's the luxury of being a contractor. I can really leave whenever i want as long as i'm willing to pay for it!

[MaSnaka]

My son has been in Kuwait for a six month deployment with the Navy. While I know it's not the same as things are in Iraq, it is still difficult with him being so far away. He likes what he does. The first three months seem to take forever but now the second three are going by faster. I just wanted to say to you and all services over seas to hang in there. You are all in our thoughts every single day. You have the support of more people than you can imagine. Stay safe!

John

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

Most definitely! That's the luxury of being a contractor. I can really leave whenever i want as long as i'm willing to pay for it!

good. As long as you are able to do that, you will make the decision that is best for you. Having toys is great, but sometimes not worth the price.

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

good. As long as you are able to do that, you will make the decision that is best for you. Having toys is great, but sometimes not worth the price.

Exactly! If i was ever asked to choose between my family or my toys... it would be a no brainer! Even if my toy was an original! It'd be up for sale in a second! I didn't just come here for the car though. That was just kind of what I was rewarding myself with. if I don't finish.. I don't get the reward! simple as that! having just separated from the military, i wanted to come here to jump ahead in life! To give my daughter a better childhood than either my wife or I had, and to start over since we were relocating back to PA where we are both from.

My wife and I met about 20 years ago! I was probably about 5 or 6 and she was abot 3 or 4. She had a crush on me because I had a cool bike! haha Black with green speckles! She lived in the apartment next to ours. Then we fast forward about 6 years, we've both moved since and my step mom works with her mom... she buys one of my gerbils! Fast forward again about 5 years and our parents start hanging out! I was 14, she was 12. We started passing notes! A love was born! haha We dated for about a year, then broke up. We hung out for a few weeks or a month when i was 17, then I went into the air force. Got stationed in japan. It wasn't long before I found myself engaged to a nice japanese girl. 2 years came and went in a blink of an eye and I was stationed back to tinker, ok. It didn't work out with my current fiance. Then out of nowhere, My wifes brother calls me. He was an old friend and i hadn't talked to him in several years. he puts his sister on the phone and we talk about old times. i say "you should come visit me"... "how about next week?" She said Ok and a year later we were married! Been married for almost 3 years now. We had plenty of rough times, but we always seem to land on our feet! She's my other half, and we compliment each other nicely! We're both very stubborn scorpios though! haha That's my story! I love her to death!!!