CONFIRMED:  USS ANZIO CG-68 WILL BE COMING HOME ON JULY 3, 2003 UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! We're on our way home even now screaming across the Atlantic at twenty-seven knots toward Norfolk.  This feels a little surreal that at long last we're driving home, not just in that general direction.  We had a successful week and a half of operations with the Spanish that resulted in a few hair-raising situations for this officer of the deck before pulling into Rota, Spain for our last port of call.  We spent most of the time preparing the ship for homecoming and the ride across the pond; the guys put in a lot of time ensuring the ship is presentable and worthy of her namesake while at the same time cutting down on our future workload for the Change of Command in August.   I'm hot and heavy into homecoming preparations with most of the shore-side arrangements nearing completion.  I hope to have things wrapped up by Thursday so we may concentrate on the hoard of last-minute preparations that I know we'll have.  I have made arrangements for a golf cart from SIMA to provide transportation up and down the pier for Woody and Mr. Byron Walker.  Does Mr. Walker still plan to attend?  I also have parking places specially set aside for both gentlemen for the morning of the third.   It's late here on the ANZIO.  We finally shifted our clocks to conform with local time for the geographic region.  I will have to restrain my urge to check the charts to figure out where we are in the TRANSLANT between watches.  I'm anxious to get home to Megan and long to see her on the pier in less than two weeks.  I hope things are going well in the waning Spring days in Norfolk.  I was never conscious of an end to Spring and a beginning of summer while living in Chesapeake back in my teenage days.  I can't imagine that has changed all that much.  Take care, and see you soon. Very Respectfully, Mike Donnelly