Long time no post..........been very busy with "Dis, Dat, and D'udder T'ing", as my hubby likes to say. Lotsa music, lotsa shopping, lotsa getting packages in the mail, lotsa Christmas cards, etc. etc. etc.
Hope this finds you all well & merry.
Had a very nice 45-minute phone conversation with Doc Sunday night;when I asked him whether he's done any "medic-ing" he said so far it's been all routine stuf; bumps, bruises cuts, twisted ankles, etc. He sounded upbeat but tired; had just finished a shift.
Then a few days ago came a hand-written letter. I'd like to share part of it with you, if I may:(postmarked 12/11)
"Hello Mom & Pop, what's up?
Well, I haven't e-mailed you recently, reason being, with the election coming up there are some fairly large troop buildups where I am. They have no mission right now, so they have time to stand in line for the internet up to 3-4 hours. Being that I work I do not have that kind of time.
I don't know if I ever clearly explained what I do here; here's the skinny:
(He goes on to explain his mission in detail....I'll skip that part.)
He continues:So mostly we're babysitters for the Kuwaiti desert. All I have seen are about a dozen oil fires, like, 5 camel sightings, & a LOTTA sand. Actually, I want to get a big deuce & a half tire, throw it out into the front yard & make a sandbox. I don't think anybody would get it though.
So I think I may have mentioned before, because of the combination of medics X 12 hour shifts, we all have the 36 hour day thing going on. I had a lot extra to do today, so I'm on like 40 hours without sleep right now. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just kind of did. So if my rants seem exceptionally incoherent, think nothing of it.
Things here are actually going very well. Sure, the lines are long, but at least I've got a kick-butt room to come home to. In fact, post command just put concrete barriers around our whole 16 barracks pad so the 4th I.D. punks have to walk around, pretty sweet. They HAD been generally trashing our whole area. Never underestimate the destructive potential of a bored soldier, let alone 8,000 of them.
FYI, I just remembered, the phones here have been down for about 8 days now. That's why I haven't called lately. The wireless internet should be up very soon though....hopefully before you even get this.
Anyhow, I'm tired so i'll wrap this up."
Today Ev's sweet little Katie-Girl & I went out for lunch. She told me that just as she was leaving the house, a delivery of flowers arrived....from Ev. He remembered her favorite flower......lilies..and sent a beautiful arrangement of pink lilies and lavender baby's breath.
When I got home there was a surprise for me, too. Here's what I just e-mailed to him:
"Hi Sweetie!
THANK YOU FOR THE GORGEOUS FLORAL ARRANGEMENT!!!!!!
It will be our centerpiece for Christmas dinner!!
It is very beautiful and it was SO thoughtful of you.
Your Katie-girl & I went out for lunch today......she was ecstatic over HER flowers.:)
We went to Tundra, as I told you; the food at the Caribou was actually not bad. I had a Buffalo Chicken sandwich & Katie had a Caribou burger, which is actually buffalo. She said it was great.
She will be coming here for dinner Christmas day.
We are expecting freezing rain tomorrow.........with all the shopping traffic, that should be very interesting.
Your sister graduated FIRST in her training class at APAC!! She starts answering "real" customers' calls on Monday.
I enjoyed your letter so much......especially appreciated the detailed description of just what it is you're doing over there......and btw, re: the "sandbox" joke.......I get it!!!!! :-)
Your Dad is re-re-re-re-re-watching "Return Of The King". He starts his 11- day vacation today.
Jake asked me to forward your e-mails to him......I'm assuming that's okay with you, if not, let me know........otherwise you can write to him directly at ***********. Take care of yourself!
Love,
Ma"
.......and I just found this in my inbox:
"hey ma, what's happening. I'm writing to you now on my flashy new wireless internet connection. I can see this replacing sleep very easily.
Not a whole lot new, just thought i'd drop you a line. F.Y.I. i got my online banking fixed so no need to worry about updating me. Work is the same as always, which i guess is a good thing. I'll try to give you a call either Christmas eve or Christmas. talk to you later - Evan"
This is pretty long.......sorry for the bandwidth-wastage.....but as you might imagine he has been on my mind a LOT this week.
Oh, almost forgot: He has leave in April, and will be home for Easter!!!!!:) :) :)
That was just THE BEST use of bandwidth, Mozie!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for keeping us updated on 'our' soldier. (((((Mozie)))))
Good post.
sorry for the bandwidth-wastage...
I waste more bandwidth than you do.
5.56mm
Great to hear about him. He is in my prayers, even if I am a Protestant! :-)
"I can see this replacing sleep very easily." Ask any FReeper... :]
After tomorrow, nine days off from the hellhole and it's paid! [3 holiday/2 vacation days] I avoid unpaid leave like you wouldn't believe!
Your son sounds safe and happy. Have a very Merry Christmas!
BTW, the cards are still here, next to the envelope and the stamps. It's grown by one card since I last didn't send it. Tomorrow. First thing on the list.
/johnny
Mozie, what a wonderful emotional lift!
That "boy" is a gem and it is a pleasure to see the interesting and informative parts of his correspondence. Thank you.
Prayers continue.
I replied with a demure..: "We have no cable in this building. It's below standards, I know. But I'm Air Force! I'll live with it."
I can't repeat his next comment, except to say something about a half mile walk to get to a common room that didn't have nearly the... stuff I had close at hand. Severely paraphrased (and redacted. I understand why he's been busted so many times, but he had a point). I love my SIL, but I'm not above a little interservice jabbing at sore spots.
I'm not Army for a reason.... 8>)
/john
Hi Mozie - thank you again for sharing Ev's email. I'm so glad he sounds so good but 40 hours without sleep?? - I would be a bear.
I knew you were busy with your shows, etc. Are they over with now? Hope you all have a nice Christmas.
We're supposed to get the freezing rain tonight after midnight. Hope it misses us. It was 42 degrees here today so some of our snow is melting but we still have enough for a white Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
(((Mozie))) Thankd you for sharing! I just read it twice.
Wonderful news Mozie. Pass on our good wishes to him and a Very Merry Christmas. He's a good son.