[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!