Hello to everyone, I hope the holidays have been treating you all well, and you're packing on the extra pounds for me. Surveys say that the average weight gain for Americans during the holiday season (defined as Thanksgiving to New Years at which point everyone vows to strap themselves to a treadmill as penance for the culinary sins committed) is 14 pounds. Yikes. I hope none of you have done that or I will slap you with a liposuction hose!
Needless to say, I have not been putting on the pounds here. I've looked at food too many times recently and thought, "Is this dog food? Or is it food made out of dogs?" I've eaten a lot of granola and sandwiches lately as a result. The ops schedule hasn't slowed down and won't for good reasons, but eventually I'll shift off of the vampire schedule and might be able to hit an open DFAC for a warm meal instead of tepid leftovers. But I don't want anyone to think I'm just continuously letting loose with vitriolic spews about how it sucks over here. I could have it so much worse. There have been many nights where we talk to some Army or Marine Troops on the ground in some forsaken corner of this country and I think, "Damn, these guys are gonna be chowing on MREs tonight as they sleep on this MOUNTAIN." I definitely am well off in comparison.
The greatest thing I've learned since getting here is exactly how much we as a military can do when we work together. Integrating this airframe into working hand in hand with the ground assets hasn't been a fast or easy process, but the progress made is eye opening to say the least. When we work synergistically with these units, it can be staggering to see how effective they become. I'm grateful for the guys on the ground, because they are the ones out there really moving the mission and taking the fight to the terrorists, I'm just glad we can help.
You know, I originally thought that Christmas in the desert was going to suck, but I don't feel that it did. The camaraderie that occurs on days like this is overwhelming. Obviously most people want to be home with their families, but I've never been around so many people who are so upbeat to be getting the mission done despite the miles and time zones between them and their loved ones. Not only that, but the tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, gratitude and kindness from back home has been amazing. Our mail room is overflowing with care packages, and our hallways are filled with Christmas cards from family members, friends and kids that no one knows (those are the best, by the way. Reading Christmas cards from random 1st and 2nd graders who don't know any of us always make us smile. Especially when they write funny stuff like, "Dear soldier, please don't die before you come home." Awesome). I've had friends and family alike say "Thank you for what you're doing for us over there." But I think I should be thanking everyone back home. Behind every soldier, sailor, marine and airman is a support network that enables us to do what we do. Without the amazing people I have behind me, it would be a completely different story over here. So thanks to all of you for the love and support. It keeps me smiling, which for those of you that know me, know that's more than half the battle.
So having said that, I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. I'll still be here for a while, but I'm holding a cup that runneth over.
Will
Needless to say, I have not been putting on the pounds here. I've looked at food too many times recently and thought, "Is this dog food? Or is it food made out of dogs?" I've eaten a lot of granola and sandwiches lately as a result. The ops schedule hasn't slowed down and won't for good reasons, but eventually I'll shift off of the vampire schedule and might be able to hit an open DFAC for a warm meal instead of tepid leftovers. But I don't want anyone to think I'm just continuously letting loose with vitriolic spews about how it sucks over here. I could have it so much worse. There have been many nights where we talk to some Army or Marine Troops on the ground in some forsaken corner of this country and I think, "Damn, these guys are gonna be chowing on MREs tonight as they sleep on this MOUNTAIN." I definitely am well off in comparison.
The greatest thing I've learned since getting here is exactly how much we as a military can do when we work together. Integrating this airframe into working hand in hand with the ground assets hasn't been a fast or easy process, but the progress made is eye opening to say the least. When we work synergistically with these units, it can be staggering to see how effective they become. I'm grateful for the guys on the ground, because they are the ones out there really moving the mission and taking the fight to the terrorists, I'm just glad we can help.
You know, I originally thought that Christmas in the desert was going to suck, but I don't feel that it did. The camaraderie that occurs on days like this is overwhelming. Obviously most people want to be home with their families, but I've never been around so many people who are so upbeat to be getting the mission done despite the miles and time zones between them and their loved ones. Not only that, but the tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, gratitude and kindness from back home has been amazing. Our mail room is overflowing with care packages, and our hallways are filled with Christmas cards from family members, friends and kids that no one knows (those are the best, by the way. Reading Christmas cards from random 1st and 2nd graders who don't know any of us always make us smile. Especially when they write funny stuff like, "Dear soldier, please don't die before you come home." Awesome). I've had friends and family alike say "Thank you for what you're doing for us over there." But I think I should be thanking everyone back home. Behind every soldier, sailor, marine and airman is a support network that enables us to do what we do. Without the amazing people I have behind me, it would be a completely different story over here. So thanks to all of you for the love and support. It keeps me smiling, which for those of you that know me, know that's more than half the battle.
So having said that, I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. I'll still be here for a while, but I'm holding a cup that runneth over.
Will
No comments:
Post a Comment