Showers and Rituals

Each and everyone of us has a daily ritual we go thru as we get up in the morning. Everyone usually takes a daily shower, for me it is in morning. I like to take my time getting to the bathroom area and not have to worry too much about anything. As a 44 year old, I'm kinda set in my ways especially when it comes to my rituals every morning. So when I arrived here I was surprised to find rows of showers that are too small and too close together. This makes me uncomfortable. The ritual starts out with way too much effort. I wake up and have to get dressed in a uniform. My ritual has been a work in progress because of the effort it takes to get going is very different than what I'm used to. You must wear a uniform always. I tried getting dressed at the showers and I regreted that the moment I tried that technique. So I've decided to put on a dirty uniform to wear to the shower, which by the way is probably over 200 yards away. Next, you must wear socks with your shoes so that you don't chip a toe nail or step on something that might hurt your feet. This makes you take shower shoes or flip flops to wear in the shower along with a towel as well your shaving kit, US gov't ID, bottle of water (more on this later), shampoo, and soap and a flak vest and helmet; and of course render a salute if someone salutes you. I think those guys saluting you just want to watch you try. Next, comes the combat shower which means 30 seconds to wash down, turn off the water and lather up, 2 minutes to wash off, that's it. This is uncomfortable for me too, I like long, hot showers with NO MEN around. Then, for me the tough part comes next. You dry off and put back on the dirty stuff to wear back to your hooch to change into your fresh clothes. Now I bet you are wondering about the bottle of water. Usually I take the bottle of water with me to the shower because you must brush your teeth with the bottled water since the water is no good from the sink. But the ritual breaks down all the time because there is too much to remember to bring with you when you just woke up. So I shaved dry in my hooch, too lazy to walk back to a sink, dry brushed my teeth, walked to and from with messed up hair because I left comb in hooch, all of which I could mess up at anytime up to the day I leave this place. Anyway, none of it matters because as soon as you get dressed and walk to work, you are sweating and you start to feel the dust stick to your skin. But I have 110ish days to go on this vacation. That is that for now.