06-VII-1982.
Having returned my uniform the day before (the jeep was going down for something anyway) and the rifle months ago, I dressed up in my civvies in the morning. Clogs, worn out jeans, cotton shirt (not T). Didn't have much luggage - the camera, reserve of tobacco, photos, letters from home and the negatives is all I can remember.
The dorm is behind my back; boss' window is next.
Shook hands with everybody, smashed my shaver with the large sledgehammer - growing my beard again - and went the last time down the hill to the barracks in the left bay, to get my booklet stamped and to get the cash for the trip. I actually already had my airplane ticket, which went missing a few days ago and we managed to find it among the garbage. The kampanjola (italian made jeep) was en route down, so the guy just drove me to the big barracks to return my gear (everything on count, of course, perhaps an extra shirt) and then back to the little barracks to get my booklet stamped.
On my way out of the office, I just couldn't avoid meeting Elvir. He greeted me as if we were big friends (maybe he thought we were, carried by the official stories about comradeship etc) and yet had to make a remark that I could have shaven, to keep the image. No, I said, I'm a civilian now, and in my civilian life I wear a beard, starting yesterday.
View on my way down (and out).
Luckily, there was the troop cat Sića (small change - which in army lingo denotes "I have only a small change of days until the end"), so I shook his paw on my way out. Have someone normal as the last one to see in there.
Went to see uncle Staja, who was still in the city, repairing windows and doors in officers' apartments. He then took me to Solaris hotels' beach, which made for a total of four swims I had in these 365 days. Civilian again, and that on a beach which was off limits to soldiers. Though, technically, I was still enlisted until I get home (as vojska pays the train ticket). Who cares now.
Took a bus to Trogir. Had a špricer there, and a coffee, sitting as a free man in a simple cafe. Saw a huge rat in the nearby ditch. Then got to the airplane and next I remember, I was embracing my girls and dad at Surčin.
Mentions: Elvir Pozder, špricer, uncle Staja, vojska, in serbian
15-XII-2012 - 31-X-2025