The Preverbial Air Force Base

Every nurse applicant is required to be interviewed by the chief nurse of hospital squadron. Yesterday, I had my interview.
There are two Air Force Bases within close proximity to the Twin Cities--one in Grand Forks and the other near St. Louis, MO (but it is actually in IL). I went to Scott AFB in IL, and of course it was a 9-hour drive.
The colonel that I spoke with has been in the USAF for 23 years (that is how old I am :)!). She never planned it that way, it just happened. She told me of her experiences in Iraq. She said that going to Iraq was the single most influential endeavor that she was privelaged to participate in. She told me stories of congenitally deformed children who are brought to the USAF hospital bases to be "cured" by the Americans. It was really sad...
It was interesting being on a base...it's like a small city, about 10,000 people. Every amenity you can think of is available to you...even renting a plot of ground so that you can garden in your free time...CRAZY! You can rent RVs and camping equipment and all kinds of stuff. You can even learn to fly...way cool!