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For 16 years he played Army one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Then on 9/11 he came home, silently went upstairs and dragged his gear down from the 3rd floor, expecting the call that evening, I guess. That's when it hit me, "Oh, now I get it..."
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Saturday, April 13, 2002
I received the box yesterday and the envelope today, thanks for all the things that you have sent both through the mail and over the wire. Today we broke down pallets and handed out a bunch of stuff that was going bad - wet/mildewed so it was given away to the locals. I received Amandas and Zaks letter and I am proud of our children. I hope that you liked the stuff and I will look for some girl stuff that may match for Amanda and you. Give me an idea of what to look for; when we go down range it is not K-Mart and one has to haggle quick then get on with other things. I do not think that I will be buying a Harley even though everyone else is. How is our bank account doing with me not home using all the water? best to you love to all Chris
posted by Debbie at 10:10 AM
Friday, April 12, 2002
Dear Chris, It was wonderful to have so much news from you. Deb has done a great job of assembling your letters, and those of the children. I was fearful that you were in freezing weather in a tent. The spring warmth must be satisfying. Taking an outside shower at 30 degrees would limit cleanliness. The dried eggs sound sickening. Deb suggested powerbars. What else would you and the mice like to have? Deb and kids came up for a short weekend. Zac is a powerhouse, Amanda is beautiful. You must miss them a lot. Pitching and packing are going well. I'm glad that Deb is coming back for the Ithaca map. She had a full truck when she left. I hope the bed is just right for Amanda. Spring is here with daffodils, flowering pears, some crabapples. My favorite season. Lots of love to you and may the time go quickly for all of us. Mom
posted by Debbie at 9:56 PM
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Sorry about the short e-mails but usually there are people waiting to get on line, and there was a line of people drilling me with their eyes in the back of my head. Life goes on. I have a blast of a time with our riggers -- the guys who pack our chutes and prepare the pallets for heavy air drops. Spring is here and the poppies are already popping up. I will take some pictures tomorrow. I would like to tell you what is happening here but you get a good picture on the news and the main thing is that I hear things that should not be disclosed and the best thing is not to say anything. With the bounty on Americans, its best if I give you the scoop when I am home. All the units on the ground are a good bunch. The camp is getting built up and it is a busy place, we have settled in and are doing our missions. There is no rhyme or reason as to how things happen here it all seems pretty random. It is like living in some major city. I am usually within range of communication but occasionally I drop out. I think of you all at different times of the day and when certain things happen. It is like hearing some old song and thinking about what you were doing years ago. When the big earthquake hit, I did not know about it until I met a reporter from Houston who was covering the gig. Uncle Don sent a bunch of books which will keep me busy for awhile. I had so much pogey that the mice got into it and I had to put all my stuff in ammo cans. I can’t wait for the cobras to come out and eat the little rats. Maybe I can bring back a little rikky tikky tavi [ed. note: a mongoose; Zak was delighted ;-)], although I don’t think that the cats would roll out the welcome mat.
posted by Debbie at 3:11 AM
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Sorry that it took this long to get this sent but I had to do this offline and burst it out. I was doing some more writing tonight on top of the bunker. The riggers packed this new type of bundle and we waited for the bird to drop it with lots of people waiting to watch it drop. I was by myself and next thing I knew there was a platoon on top waiting to watch. As the light failed I decided that I would not be able to see the drop so I walked onto the airhead. Well I saw the drop and it was ok then as I was walking back I slipped in this big muck puddle. So it was off to the shower to wash my bod and clothes in the same shot. It was like mucking the pond in Ithaca as I trashed the shower. Had a good time talking to you. I expected that Zak would just roll over and go back to sleep. He thought that I was going to be home in the near future but I had to tell him that it may be the end of the summer. I do hope that I can be back for my birthday, but then again I can’t even say that will happen. I am doing some reading and I am glad that I brought the resources (laptop) as it will be a long time in this little brown hellhole. Love Chris
posted by Debbie at 10:54 AM
Monday, April 08, 2002
Next box out tomorrow: four types of seeds, pistachios and coffee from the Bovines, apricots from your mom and, get this, eight of those big Toblerone bars that I scored for $1 apiece at Thriftway – yowsa, yowsa, yowsa, I am good (envision the fist double-pumping here ;-) D.
posted by Debbie at 8:10 PM
Tonight I went to my first board meeting of the local chapter of Children's International Summer Villages (CISV). In 1969, at the age of eleven, I traveled to Liberia, West Africa with a group of children and an adult leader to promote peace and cross-cultural understanding. Imagine how devastating it was for the president to open the meeting with this announcement, "We have learned that a 15 year old Israeli girl who was a CISV delegate was killed by a suicide bomber on March 31st." Unbelievable; it contravenes everything this organization represents. We joined hands and sang, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Hopefully, it will spur all of us on to greater commitment to the goal of peace...
posted by Debbie at 6:15 PM
Sunday, April 07, 2002
Posted Aaron and sent my mom a letter asking both Jenny and my mom for seeds. Transplanted some poppies monday and they are blooming called it erosion control but it helps my head to look out and see something beautiful instead of the same color of brown. doing well and think of you all every day and then ever night when I lay down to bed I miss reading to the kids and all the sorts of things one misses in everyday life. Take the shower for instance I don't get my back washed I can see twenty ***es and not a single one is yours. Well I will do some more ranting and lamenting later till then xxxooxoxoxox love Chris
posted by Debbie at 6:33 PM
Yesterday I sent a box of those Japanese instant meals to eat for breakfast. Some are instant soup bowl type meals, others are the cryovaced, heat the pouch in hot water type of meals. Those should be good breakfast goodies. Also, a couple of magazines, like Outside, letters from the kids, and a surprise gift... D.
posted by Debbie at 6:29 PM
Dear Deb, I received the package with all the bacon and other stuff. From that catalog there is one thing that we could use and that is 4 dozen 20" alien blow up critters. Things are going well on our day off as we had grilled lamb and rice with the locals for lunch. I will be setting up some wire here in a few but just wanted to get a quick post off to see how you are doing. They gave us some time lines but they had a three month spread and then there is the whole thing with getting aircraft that could push the time a month either way. will work on some snail mail and try to get out some photos tonight if I don't go to lah lah land.
Best to you your soulmate Chris xxxxxooooooo
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