It's all a matter of perspective Published April 16, 2011 By Lt. Col. Brian Dickinson 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- I submitted my first commentary after being here less than a month, facing down another 11.5 months away from my family. I wrote on perspective and how I would define my time here over the course of the upcoming year. If I dare say, it is worth reading, http://www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123208302, not only because I'm fairly proud of the article, but also because I am using this as an opportunity to appraise my original thoughts and goals. I wrote about the significance of all the facts pertaining to the challenge of a year-long remote and how my perspective of those facts would largely define both my time here and the outcome of my tour. With only 30 days to go ... I'll tell you, I'm going to need more time. While slow and steady progress has been made toward personal and professional goals, the remaining 30 days won't be enough to finish everything I've started and wanted to start. Also interesting, there are goals I have now that I didn't imagine having when I first arrived. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for an extension. But I think every Airman and Soldier possess a personal and professional pride that drives each of us to leave it better than we found it. That journey to make "it" better often finds us taking on ownership and an unwillingness to give "it" up until we have achieve perfection and ultimately win! Given all the goals and the short amount of time I have remaining, it is clear I am going to have to re-evaluate, re-prioritize, re-engage and re-double efforts to achieve all I intended to do. It has gone so much faster than I would have expected. Back at home, I'd tell you there's far too much time between now and then. I'm eleven full months into my year and have been away from my family longer than any period in my 15-year marriage. Slow and steady progress is an understatement for all the things I've missed with my family. Together, my wife and I have a baby boy who has been without a father longer than he's been with one. He is just over a year old, is proficient in walking, always smiling and Skype has verified he's a clever child who will prove difficult to keep a handle on. Our oldest son had his eighth birthday, gone through baseball, football, and basketball seasons and has begun baseball again. His mother still can't get him to put on any clothes, other than underwear, inside the house and he's endlessly amused by fart jokes. Mom, who successfully moved a household solo, and preparing to do so again, has managed to run a house renovation from the studs up, and keep two boys happy and healthy. She continues to prove she's the foundation of our family ... and I know she isn't looking for an extension! It has all gone so much slower than I would have expected. I began my first commentary by saying, "Perspective, I have been told depends on what end of the gun you are holding!" Thirty days can seem forever, or go by in a flash, depending on perspective. But, perspective aside, the fact is 30 days is 720 hours, or 43,200 minutes or 2,592,000 seconds ... and that's a lot of opportunities!