At home (or at least at my brother-in-law’s, where Em and the kids are) there’s a turkey probably in the sink defrosting right this second because they were late buying one like I am every year. For us? Just another day. I mentioned sending some congressmen out here for the holidays in a previous post and I should caveat that with “all” of them—since some do and are coming out into the theater for the holiday. But again—for the vast 99% majority of us, it’s just another day. At least I don’t have to brief the generals—it is a holiday, you know.
The Christmas decorations are starting to go up around here. Seems a little out of place considering that its currently 92 degrees outside. Looks good though. The busses started playing Christmas music while I’m going to work the other day. It’s funny, because at home I start to see Christmas stuff go up around 1 October now (I remember when you saw nothing until Thanksgiving, and then slowly things started going up) and think nothing of it. Everyone on the bus that day looked around as if the driver was nuts. It just doesn’t feel like a holiday out here. I guess that probably helps a bit—if it doesn’t feel like a holiday then you don’t miss it as much. But in my heart I know that Emily is probably watching the Macy’s Day parade with the kids waiting to see Santa come down the street.
This weekend they have some activities planned—the country group “Trick Pony” (never heard of them but I hear they’re good) and my favorite football team, the New England Patriots, has their cheerleading squad coming out. Should be fun. But I already got Sarah her signatures from the Washington Redskins when they came out in September. To be honest I’m not sure why they send cheerleaders out anyway—it’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but I think guys out here (myself included) need something to laugh about more than stoke hormones that are already out of whack from being stuck in a combat zone. So send us Drew Carey again (he was here last summer).
My attitude lately has sucked and I think you can tell from my blog so I apologize. I’m not really sure why. I need to work out more I think. The fact that all my buds are still on night shift and I’m now doing the day-shift thing doesn’t help.
Sending props out today to the uber-blogs that have posted/linked some of my posts on their sites: Blogs of War (http://www.blogsofwar.com/) , BlackFive (http://www.blackfive.net/), and
For those of you reading my blog on Thanksgiving turn the computer off now and go watch some football. Or call a family member. Eat as much
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
military
Never apologize for your attitude. It has to be a rather melancholy time for you and your compadres, I think that the holidays are like a course correction that remind us where we've come from and where we're headed. When you don't have those traditions and family gathered close, it would be difficult indeed to be cheerful.
ReplyDeleteI, and many, many others are thankful for you, and others like you, who are doing such a difficult job so far away from the comfort and warmth of home and family. You remain in my daily prayers and thoughts.
Never feel you have to keep a *stiff upper lip* here. Just use this as a place to say whatever you feel on your heart that you need to say.
Blessings to you.
Okay, time to shower and finish the ham. Thanks for serving, Maj.