surrealism in black cordura

I’ve just had a terribly surreal moment.

My best friend from college is also in the Army, currently overseas. When he came home for mid-tour leave, he lent me his drop-leg holster for my M9, which he doesn’t need because he’s carrying an M16. The drop length was a little too short, and I couldn’t extend it far enough to make it comfortable, so the first couple of times I wore it, at the range, it was pulling on my belt in a very annoying manner. So today, I went shopping here on post and picked up an extender. I just put it on. I’m sitting here typing, wearing a holster strapped to my leg, and aside from getting jabbed in the lower ribs just a tiny bit, it’s quite comfortable.

My moment of surrealism came when I looked down at my leg and realized that that is what my leg will look like for the next year. 

This is what it looks like from the side.  (The weapon is locked in the arms room, so the holster is empty.)

For the next year, whenever I get up to go anywhere, no matter what I’m doing, I will be wearing this holster. I will constantly be armed. In the potty, at the shower point, at chow, at work… everywhere. I will never not have a gun strapped to my leg. (Or possibly under my arm; I might get a shoulder holster to wear with PT clothes, which have no belt. But still…)

I’m glad I spent the $7 to make this thing comfortable. If it’s going to be on me all the time, it needs to be.