Fraser From Iraq

Around here, the 3rd and the 5th of July are exactly like the 4th of July. Every now and again I’ve received email from friends, and being from non-military backgrounds they make some interesting statements like, “I hope you have a great 4th!”, or “Are you guys going to have a big parade, a cook out, and fireworks?”

It just kinda makes me laugh, because these friends have no idea of what I actually do and where I do it. I don’t blame them, I really don’t understand the 9 to 5 lives back home.

The only reason I know its Saturday here is because the Chaplin brings bags of popcorn to all the units. Literally, Saturaday is the only day of the week I can honestly say I know what day it is. Sure, I can tell you its the 22nd POD (period of darkness) or the 26th POL (period of light). But what the hell is the day of the week? I kid you not. Until the Chaplin walks in with popcorn, I don’t know if it’s Wednesday or Sunday?

Well, everything’s the same here. It’s still freak’in hot.

I guess the stock market is crashing back home, and everybody is worried if Tiger Woods will have enough money to split and still survive, and if Lebron James is going to stay in Cleveland. All very important stuff which crosses our eyesight for about a millisecond, then fades away into the minutia.

Our issues that replace those otherwise exceptionally important topics are things like: What is for chow? My air-conditioned is out. The internet is down. The aircraft is broken. The Team wants us to do WHAT? The printer just ran out of ink. (Mission products chew up ink and kill trees one sheet of paper at a time.)

It’s funny, when I do come home, it really takes a week just to feel normal again. Normal for me seems to be a moving target to lock-in on. You kinda have to readjust to the new scale of importance and forget about the picture in the rear view mirror. Gotta forget about sand storms, living on the ass back end of the clock, freaking 12 hour missions, rubber chicken for dinner (again!), rumors about “NEW DAWN“, and when this is all gonna be over.

Anyway, I’m thread drifting. I really do hope you all have a fantastic Fourth of July with watermelon, hotdogs, apple pie, fireworks, beer, and baseball. Have fun, but please don’t send any pictures. Have a blast, but please don’t let us know about it. I’m just looking forward to popcorn on Saturday (thanks Chaplin) to figure out what day of the week it is.

Peace – J