LOl...I actually clicked your post for the title, not the hit wife and jag and puppy. And what a post this is. WOW. Im ready for the movie. I love the line, "when your have just come back from what he thought was certain death you are not in the mood to party." great line and really shows a deep darker humor in this situation. I cant imagine over 37 traveling about. I wont complain about traffic in Hollywood ever again. Your shoes have travelled a fulllife and now- hopefully you get to enjoy.
Thanks for such a great comment, I have a stack of these stories and its good to write them down. Also a lot of lessons for the future too. Yes plenty of fun to be had - warzones are not all doom and 'boom boom' - well not for visitors like me - when you get a chance to do something about it, they can be very satisfying places to work (however misguided my actions may have been, with the benefit of hindsight). Best wishes from Amsterdam.