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Ramblings of a Deployed Mind (Memorial Day Edition)
From the confines of Camp Leatherneck
ALMAR/ALFAM/ALFRDS
OK, OK, yes, I know that this is a day late. Every time I get a chance to get on the Internet, I’m reading/responding to my personal emails… I can only imagine what my work email looks like. I’ve been traveling around this wonderful country, doing the liaison thing, getting the “face-to-face” with my counterparts, picking up and dropping off items around the theater, and trying (very unsuccessfully) to run or complete my final. When we finally got to Bagram, who did I run into???? Yes, my little brother Chris! Chris is settling in nicely here at Bagram. I can’t tell you what he does, or I’d have to kill you 🙂 Anyway, we’ve gotten a chance to hang and share a few meals together. I have another few days here with him, so I’ll get to hang out a few more times before I head back down south to hell… I mean Camp Leatherneck.
I appreciate everything I have at Camp Leatherneck… my own room, electricity, A/C (most of the time), you know, the creature comforts. I went to Kandahar and ate on the Boardwalk… yes, the Boardwalk. It’s a very large complex of shops and restaurants. So at 0200, Jimmy and I had gyros and Philly cheesesteaks from Nathan’s. Yes, Nathan’s. While walking around the Boardwalk, we had a hard time choosing which restaurant to eat at…. let me remind you, it’s 2 AM. Since TGI Friday’s was close… you are reading that right, TGI Fridays… we decided to pass up all the other shops and eat at Nathan’s…. best damn gyro I’d ever had in my life!!! I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t had food like that in three months or if it’s just because I’m used to the food at Camp Leatherneck. On top of all that, in the center of the Boardwalk is a street hockey rink (where the Canadians actually have a league, imagine that), sandy volleyball courts, and basketball courts under the lights… not to mention the performance stage. I’m not lying. Anyway, Bagram is nice too. Five PX/BX’s, four bazaars, and two Green Bean Coffees! The Green Bean is what I love… it’s not my Starbies, but a wonderful substitute. Traveling is great because I get a little adventure out of it… most people would not agree, but I didn’t join the Corps to sit in an office and push email and policy… basically that’s what I’ve been reduced to. My job is to make the trigger pullers’ comms a little easier and a lot more secure… life is good!
Anyway, this will be a short email for a few reasons. One, I only get 30 minutes of computer time. Two, I have a 10-page paper due tomorrow that I haven’t even started. Three, I haven’t run in two days and I’m becoming cranky. And four, my feet hurt…
Be safe, have a Happy Memorial Day! Remember WHY we have this day. For the people who are no longer here!!! Kara’s birthday is on Tuesday, she’ll be 11… OMG!
Joel Weber
MSGT/USMC
