Major Anthony Nelson, USAF, started down the hall on the way to his office in the Kennedy Space Center, observing how much more quiet things were these days. Dr. Bellows had been gone from NASA, running the hospital at Thute Air Force Base in Greenland, for almost exactly a year now. Jeannie promised not to pop in unannounced, and Roger was off with a relatively newfound buddy. When Nelson turned the corner, he chided himself for thinking things were tranquil. In the military, the "Q" word was superstitiously avoided—as mayhem usually followed. As Tony approached his office, his secretary was attempting to catch up on correspondence. The middle aged Royal Air Force non-commissioned officer was not the fastest typist.

Nelson greeted, "Good morning Sergeant Major."

Startled, the Brit replied, "Major, I didn't see you coming. Good morning sir."

Nelson inherited Sergeant Major Peter Newkirk as part of a service exchange program about a year ago. The Astronaut's former secretary, a young, talented, USAF sergeant named Mary Harris was now at RAF Waddington. The trade pleased both Jeannie and the C.O. of Waddington.

The Sergeant Major interrupted the Astronaut's trek to his office, reminding his superior, "You have a medical appointment scheduled in 15 minutes, sir."

The Major acknowledged, "Thank you Sergeant Major."

Nelson tried to forget the ordered appointment. A routine psychiatric examination, but over the years he came to dread those. The astronaut dropped his case off into the office and headed to medical.

Tony assessed the person he regarded as the "new" psychiatrist—even though the doctor had held the post for nearly a year. The medical officer was Army, and held the rank of full colonel. The colonel was also a few years older than Bellows. Tony read the Army colonel's biography—he had been a battlefield surgeon during World War II, and a consulting psychiatrist during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

The Doctor started, "So Major how is it going?"

"Fine, sir" Nelson replied.

The Colonel startled the major by exclaiming, "Now that's why I've stayed in the Army for over a quarter of a century! Everybody is fine—makes my job very easy!"

The Astronaut smiled, "Well, Colonel, General Peterson did tell me that if I didn't report to you that he would take my wings and make me an Air Police officer in Da Nang."

The Doctor empathized, "Not a nice place. I was there not long ago. I've been here almost a year Major, and this is the first time you've come in to see me. It is unfortunate it had to be a result of a direct order ending in a threat."

Nelson apologized, "I'm sorry Colonel. It has been a rather hectic year. A certain 4-star pain has really been on my team to ensure a satellite makes it in orbit on schedule."

The Psychiatrist said, "I understand you've been under a lot of pressure. I'm going to check your vitals now." The doctor then did a routine medical check on the Astronaut.

The Doctor reported, "Physically you do appear to be in top shape Major. How's your 'other life'."

Nelson asked, alarmed, "Sir?" The astronaut was wondering if the psychiatrist knew about something he shouldn't.

The older officer smiled, "You, know—your social life. I understand you and Major Healey are good friends."

Nelson explained, "This last project has kept us quite busy. Majors Healey and Carter have been busy on engineering the spacecraft, while I have been working on orbital projections."

The Psychiatrist observed, "Sounds lonely. Tell me about Major Carter."

Nelson explained, "It's not really lonely, sir. We astronauts are trained for months of solitude. Andrew Carter is a bit older than most majors. He had spent several years enlisted before attending Army OCS. One of the reasons Roger and Andy hit it off was that they were both 'green suits.' No offense, Colonel, but there isn't many of you Army types here at NASA. Carter is in the Chemical Corps, as well as an EOD expert. He is as good as they come in figuring out fuel mixtures. He and Roger have a lot in common, despite their age difference."

The Psychiatrist pondered, "But where does that leave you?"

Tony answered, a little irritated, "Roger has a job to do, so do I… it comes with the territory, sir."

The Colonel pushed a little more, "Major, I was just a little concerned. Too much focus on work can lead to burn out—which unfortunately also comes with the territory. And burn out is something we can't afford in this business."

Nelson relaxed a little, "Understood, sir. I'll keep that in mind."

The Psychiatrist continued, "Go see a movie, have a night out on the town. There is a wonderful French restaurant here in Cocoa Beach that my wife adores."

Tony smiled, "LeBeau's Bistro. I've eaten there several times. The owner, Chef Louis, came from Paris about a year ago. He always treats his customers like family."

The Colonel ordered, "That's it. Have more decadent dinners, go bowling, whatever strikes your interest. And, on a more serious note, you have to stop avoiding this office. I know patients often develop bonds with their therapists, but Dr. Bellows has been gone almost a year. You are career military, you know people come and go in this business."

The Astronaut acknowledged, "Yes sir," adding, "I guess I missed Dr. Bellows more than I thought I would."

The Doctor commiserated, "That is understandable. We all have friends that we miss in this job. Major, take my advice," Tony Nelson faced the Army psychiatrist, and the good doctor continued, "pull down your pants, and slide on the ice. Dismissed."

Major Nelson was laughing all the way from the Chief Psychiatrist's office to his own. Several airmen thought he may have spent a bit too much time in orbit. The Astronaut did see, however, why Colonel Sidney Freedman, MD, U.S. Army got the job as chief psychiatrist at NASA.