Another snow day- Yeah! Memories of being a child and geting the day off of school, and hot chocolate in between bouts of playing in the snow with my friends. But this is Afghanistan-yuk! I watch the beauty of the flakes falling and get heckled as I dust off the porches and make do with cardboard as welcome mats. I thought to add tape to some of that cardboard, (a huge commodity and one I would have to fight to protect) and make a sled on death knoll that leads directly to our backdoor. I fiqured it would be light enough to throw up to the next person who would then slide down the hill! But I was told that it was a no-no. OK, So let the camp goers fall on the big pointy rocks and scrape their butts all the way down. Instead we planned on a sleepless night and waited for the broken arses, legs and necks that would soon be pounding on our door. At least my idea would be more fun.
Snow turns to ice on rocks,(did you know that?) we don't have sidewalks in this part of town. It was good fun watching the fashion conscious girls walk around in their heels and plop on their butts. At one viewing, the audience looked at me for guidance. After a little bit of a pause, (meaning I wanted to tell Barbie to go get proper shoes on), I asked if she was alright? She said yes and did not want my kind of help so, I hurried away from the entertainment. I'm all about caring and compassion, but when stupid be- why look to me? I wear snow boots with my pants tucked in... am I not cute?
This is a base that is sort of on the big side. Lots of people smushed into tents and housed together, except for me and my medic partner. We get to sleep in our clinic, (a bosses dream), which is removed from the others. We have our own rooms, I have a bed and no furniture because I'm a FOB hopper and I'm not here much and not worth the expense. It also doubles as the guest room, so I live out of my suitcase and am getting rather good at it. We are also fortunate enough to be awakened at all hours of the night because people know where to find us. Whoever planned that little maneuver definitely had money signs before their eyes- they get us 24 hrs a day. It really is a good move for the patient who knows where to look for us. I'm here a lot, becoming bored by the none happenings here or I leave with my trustie radio at all times- a lesson learned at Tiny base when I lost it. I really thought the good guy site manager was teaching me a lesson and hid it on me. I really did earned that lesson for always forgetting the radio and he caught me every time. I fiqured I don't hide so why do I need a radio? I was always in plain site somewhere. Boy was I wrong! I did find it after a frantic search and it became my constant companion. And with that radio certain military guys could pull pranks on me on a daily-sometimes hourly basis. They would call out my code names and send me running to and fro and when I arrived, say they didn't call me- in annoyance and I would hear them laughing as I walked away. It was near to the last day when I found that it was their playtime thing. So I was not nuts after all! Ha!
I have no problem with games and socialization. The kids have taken to coming by and spilling their guts and have started calling me mom instead of mame. I'm a good sport, but I can't decide which I like less. I need no reminders that I'm reaching for that ripe 'ol age. Spouses fooling around and divorces are big this week. It really angers me that anyone has to deal with that being so far from home, plus all the crap we deal with on a regular basis. I am very appreciative that anyone wants to talk to me about so personal of matters. I could really write a Diane Sawyer book, but their secrets are safe with me. Everyone is so special and unique here. You have to be to live in hell.
This is a unique kind of hell where it snows and is cold and it reminds me of home. I have a family here and on many bases, but the ones back home...I can't wait to see again! See you soon!
