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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 27, 2002
Via snail mail: Received your package and one from Jenny today - she sent the pogey bait extravaganza. I am hard put to wolf it all down so I share. We had other sections/units depart and we rooted through their leftovers, which is why I didn't need any health care items. I am sending home all this junk (18 boxes so far ;-) as it is feast or famine on supply. We got boots as the last group ordered them in but they already rotated back to the states so they were issued to us. PS - Don't give away the socks; they are about the only decent ones provided by AAFES anymore. I still lament my missing green ones. Well enough of that old rag. (ed. note: about five years ago, I gave the homeless most of his two drawersful - LARGE drawers - of 20-year old ratty wool socks during a particularly brutal winter and have never heard the last of it...)
Off in the distance is the glow of the camp trash fire. There is a steady flow of aircraft: USAF, Soviet, civilian, and these fighters that buzz the camp in MIGs. When they do their run ups, they hit their afterburners and the place rocks. Then they get in the pattern and do touch and goes and kick the afterburners on during the go part, loud enough that you have to plug your ears. The sun is down now and things are starting to settle down for the night. I hope your life is settling down and your back is better. Are the kids helping with the house?
The next day: I got up about 4 this morning (1 p.m. local time) and tried to call you but no one was at home boo-hoo. Will try again tonight. We have only been here a month and guys are already starting the "when I get home" lament! We have started to settle into a routine. At least we are on the ground. When we were in Germany doing the Ramstein shuffle, I met a detachment that was in limbo as they had been there 90 days going back and forth but never catching a flight. During the first three weeks our sleep schedule was whacked - I was sleeping 3-4 hours a night.
posted by Debbie at 5:12 AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
I bought a little set of speakers and I have music as I type so life is good in the little hutch. Everyone would get in the wheel well of a C-17 to get out of here. I heard that one person caught a flight all the way back to Campbell mumbling that he was done. The funny thing is that he was AWOL and they would not let him off the plane as he was not on the manifest and cleared for customs. Good try though.
posted by Debbie at 3:58 AM
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Via ICQ: Zak, you little sleepy head, good morning. I hope that the sun is shining and you have a good day at school. Are you getting the problem of the day done on time? Mr. Buquo is a crafty one but I think that he has some good problems. If you do not get the problem one way, try another. And remember that you can always fall back on the rules of math. Love Dad
posted by Debbie at 9:52 AM
Sunday, April 21, 2002
I was listening to CCR last night and heard the song keep a light in the window. I know the real grunts are the ones we left at home to deal with two jobs and the monkeys. You are the real trooper and I mean that. l think that this whole thing will bring us closer together. One does not appreciate things until they are gone; that is another reason for the redirection in our lives as I want more time with all of you. I miss you in many ways just seeing you interact with the kids and the kind things that you do. I miss your energy and direction towards doing things. I must say that I miss snuggling too xoxoxo C
Yeah, I miss your presence, you know, just being around to help out and bounce ideas off of. I am going to get out of a lot of this stuff I do when you get back; you know, the "just say no" approach to life. I want to camp and ride bikes with the kids and do the stuff that matters. I'm keeping the light burning but it's hard and I mean every day. Thanks for your words of support. They helped. I love you. D.
posted by Debbie at 11:53 AM
I spent today on a trip on the local economy and it started off just fine until we got 3 miles from the gate and the bus went lima delta there is nothing funnier than watching a bunch of americans trying to push start a bus not to mention that it was good pt also. It was a funny day with a lot of waiting and fixing vehicles then we had a good meal that was not on the schedule and went to the market. I bought 2 bunches of green onions and gobbled one bunch on the way back -- we have salad but it is the bagged stuff.
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