Retrospective

It occurs to me as I rapidly approach what WAS to be my departure date, that some things have changed since my arrival. Nothing significant, but as I read through some of my blog posts I decided a little updating was in order.

Chez Flamingo has fallen into disrepair due to lack of use. What seemed like a perfect semi-outdoor retreat in the spring, became a kiln in the summer’s sun. Aside from some evidence of critters on the 6 inches of sand that cover the floor, no one has even stepped inside for months.

The mortar attacks that used to be relatively frequent have completely subsided. The last one we experienced was the one that killed several prisoners in the internment facility, and that was months ago.

We automated our internet watering for a time. The guys rigged up a pump that would feed water through a tube and directly on the overheating transceiver. I believe these guys are related to the man who created the remote control. Why get up, when you can just press a button. Sadly, the pump is now broken, so we’re back to the manual mode.

Our camp mascots were replaced. A pregnant cat decided to call place home for a time, and made a meal of the previous mascots. We believe in survival of the fittest here, so we didn’t interfere with the natural process. Not surprisingly, once she had eaten all the mice, she too moved on.

We have gone through an estimated 40 pounds of peanut M & Ms in this compound, and although I still like them, I don’t ever think I’ll “crave” them again.

Beau and Jo have recovered from their wedding festivities, and are currently enjoying a month split between Greece and Italy. I threatened to join them, knowing full well that a honeymoon is incomplete without friends, but I was unable to get away.

I’m sorry to say that I’ve received no support from the Government for my plan to introduce large quantities of beer into the general population. While I still maintain that nothing would have a more positive effect on the rapid end to the violence, apparently some people don’t think the plan with gain widespread favor.

The rusted out old Hummer that I drove when I first got here has been replaced by a brand new six passenger pick up truck. Not only do we have air conditioning that actually works now, but we have a radio. It’s not quite as beefy as a Hummer, but it’s better for doing donuts on the roads.

As you can see, I haven’t spent as much time posting as I did several months ago. It has become increasingly difficult to convey the nature of life here without telling you about what it is we do on a daily basis. Since I can’t do that, I’m left with little excitement to describe. Make no mistake, we have plenty of excitement…just none that I can talk about.

The one thing that remains the same is the effort that my guys put into the job everyday. They make my job easy, and in return I do my best to make life here for them as pleasant as possible. The sacrifices they make to get the job done, although occasionally accompanied with a groan, always seems to exceed the expectations of everyone we support. I’m not sure how I got lucky enough to get this position, but their effort and the accomplishment that goes along with it is what makes my job most satisfying.

As things start to wind down for me over the next month, I’ll be able to start focusing on the plans I’ve got in mind once I get home. Since I’ll still belong to the military for several months after my return, I won’t be able to just get up and go when I want to. I’m trying to divvy up my leave between some time at a home I haven’t seen in seven months, the Sears Tower climb, two ski trips, Thanksgiving, Christmas, a visit to the lake home of some great friends in Tennessee with a bonus night or two with the wild bunch in “Nash Vegas” and a trip to see several old friends. I also have to decide between whether to accept a position offered in DC or to return to San Diego as planned. It is a great dilemma to have, but perplexing none the less.

As always, the support you all provide helps to keep me sane, and I can’t thank you enough. I’ll try to get better on the updates, and I’ll let you all know when and where the party will be sometime in the weeks to come.

Should I stay or should I go?

I was running a marathon one day a long time ago and I remember trying to stay focused on goals in the not-too-distant vicinity. For me, it was every bit as much mental as it was physical. Making it to that bend in the road, or that water station there in the distance, or to the top of the next hill. I wouldn’t allow myself to think about the finish line, because it would be like thinking about graduation day on your first day of college, or planning for Christmas on New Years Eve. The anticipation would make the distance seem that much greater…better to think of what is just ahead, and surprise yourself at mile 25 when you’re almost done.

On this particular day I had just passed the 22 mile mark. A local who had come out to support the race was yelling at the side of the road, “Nice job, keep going, only ONE MILE to go.” After pounding the pavement for that long, you tend to lose your social graces, and when I heard him telling people they only had one mile to go when I knew we had FOUR miles to go, I lost it a little. I shouted back, “Shut the hell up, you’re going to screw people up by lying about the distance remaining.” He gave a dejected look that made me believe he was well intentioned, but I wasn’t sorry I had said it. Of coarse the “people” I was worried about him messing up was ME. I wasn’t ready to shift gears into the “crossing the finish line” mode yet, and still needed to focus on nearer goals. Running is definitely not my forte’, and 4 more miles with 22 behind me was a considerable test of my willingness to give a damn.

Flash forward to the last few weeks. I had originally been planning on leaving Iraq in about two and a half weeks. Three weeks ago I was given the news that I would be required to stay an extra month. I wasn’t exactly happy, but it was do-able because I was still just focusing on those short range goals right in front of me. I hadn’t yet allowed myself to transition into the reality that I would be leaving soon. Like a marathon that’s been extended from 26 miles to 32…if you’re told about it early enough you can just adjust your pace and convince yourself it’s not a big deal.

Less than a week ago everything changed. I was told that my original replacement was no longer in the mix, and my new replacement was going to be able to be here on the ORIGINAL schedule. I was back to 26 miles, and I felt like sprinting! I had plenty to do to prepare for the hand off, but I had just gained a month back, so what did I care if I had to put a couple of extra hours in each day.

Well, today it changed again. Now it appears as though I’ll be here for the first several weeks in October, and only save a week from the original revision. The kicker is, I no longer have much faith in ANY date they give me…so I somehow have to physically be prepared to leave in a couple of weeks, while mentally convincing myself that I’ll be here for several more.

Here’s the upshot. The weather is starting to get pretty nice (at least by comparison). With any luck I’ll still make it back in plenty of time for me and Beau to complete our second annual climb of the Sears Tower (the stairs, not the outside)…and most likely early enough to make it back for a Halloween bash or two. I’m sorry to say it looks unlikely that I’ll make cousin Kelly’s wedding, but I imagine I’ll have no difficulty finding someone to do my celebrating for me.

Hope you’re all well. Keep the e-mails and pictures coming…

T