Our "I'm Thankful" Moment

Every year around the Thanksgiving dinner table, if you are with The Misses family you are required to tell everyone what you are thankful for. I sent The Misses an email and explained how it went for me…..
So my "I’m thankful" moment didn't turn out like I had planned. I started with "I have never been more thankful for the internet and the telephone”..... Silence...I was so over come with emotion that I couldn't speak. Tears just rolled down my face and I buried my face in a napkin. I don’t know how long I stayed like that, but it felt like forever. I finally was able to spit out "This is so hard without her. I didn’t think it would be this hard”..... More silence and sobbing. I think I managed to thank your Mom and Dad for their support, but then I was done. I just couldn't stop crying.
Sitting next to me was TP. When she started into you being thankful for me I couldn’t hold it back again. I guess you have worn off on me. Shit I am crying here again. I could hear all of your family sobbing too. Your Aunt Lavern softly said "how precious". I really don’t think there was a dry eye in the place.

The Misses got off easy (if you can call eating a turkey dinner in a combat zone easy). She had pre written something and had her sister TP read it…..
Hey Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving!!! I truly hope all of you are doing well. I wish I could be there but since I am unable to, I thought I would write and let you all know what I am thankful for this year. I have also attached some pics of my Thanksgiving meal in the chow hall here. SSG Rose Ledford was my date and we had a great dinner. Of course it was no home cooked meal, but it was good. As for what I am thankful for, prepare yourself, my list is long. This is truly a list of what I am grateful for and why. We are all so blessed with so many small things we forget what they are until we don’t have them anymore. So in no particular order, here is my list: drum roll please,
1. Sidewalks. Walking in sand, dirt, and/or rocks all day everyday gets really old. Especially when you have weak ankles.
2. Street Lamps. Yep walking on previously stated terrain is not any easier at night, in the dark.
3. Telephones, yep the old fashion kind that actually are connected to a cord in your house. Mine are ½ a mile away that you can only get to by walking on previously stated terrain. Refer to number 1.
4. Cell phones. Need I say more?
5. Fly swatters, fly sticky strips, or anything that can help get rid of all these slow flying kamikaze flies. I swear, you swat one and 10 of his buddies show up.
6. A chow hall, food already prepared and ready to eat. Much easier to eat healthy when you don’t have to think about it.
7. A chow hall that is 0.7 miles away. Yep I have to walk that far to eat. I’m thankful for it though because when I do eat, I’m already burning those calories before and after. However with that said, I give you number…
8. A kitchen that is attached to my living space. A fridge, stove and all the food right there not 10 feet from me. The walking does get old, quick. Again, refer to number 1.
9. Free Gyms and exercise classes. I think the government should put that on the table to help keep Americans healthy. I know it helps me.
10. Internet, and email. Being able to keep in touch with family and friends more frequently and more often than snail mail. This is truly priceless.
11. High Speed Internet, we are truly spoiled with that. The stuff out here is slow…
12. Letters, as slow as snail mail is. There is nothing like seeing that someone took the time to actually write you a letter. To see their handwriting. With this said I need to apologize to my brother Greg that I didn’t do a better job of this for him. I hope he will forgive me.
13. A bathroom connected to your room, no wait a bathroom connected to your house. Let’s just say I have TBS (tiny bladder syndrome) and having to get up and use the bathroom some 30 feet away outside through a maze of buildings 1-2 times a night, does not help with a good night sleep. Oh and yet again please refer to number 1.
14. Porta Jons, yep I am thankful for them. Right now I wish there was one right outside my room. They are everywhere else, why can’t they put one there?
15. Long, hot, showers by yourself. Yep, I like them but here, no such thing. One, everyone else is taking a shower with you. Two, we are in a desert and we get to take “combat showers.” Example: step 1, water on, rinse. Step 2, water off, wash. Step 3, water on, rinse. The End. Oh, and by step 3, hot water is gone.
16. A bath. Again, need I say more? The truth is, it’s really not that bad over here. I know my set up could be much worse. I have a comfortable room and bed with a very nice roommate, Rose Ledford who I am sharing this experience with. I am learning and experiencing things I never have before so how could I not be thankful for my life. So now for the “cheesy” stuff. I am thankful for a country that allows us to choose what we believe and who we want to represent us. During this historical election year I have listened to Soldiers who all wear the same uniform and yet have very different beliefs on who they wanted to be their Commander in Chief. How lucky are we that is even possible, that they, that we, have a right to choose who our boss is. As a nation we are truly blessed for the opportunities we have and what this country has to offer. I want to thank every Soldier and their families. I am thankful for them and their sacrifice. Both truly do sacrifice for a Soldier’s service. The Mr. and I now actually know what that sacrifice is. I am mostly thankful for my family. I have parents both birth and in-laws who love me and care for me very much. I know that any of my family; all of my 4 sisters and 5 brothers would do anything for me. I am thankful for extended family that actually enjoy each other’s company at the holidays and get together to celebrate. I am also thankful for friends. You know who you are. We too have been through so much together and I appreciate all you have done to be there for the Mr. and I, especially during these last couple years.
The number one thing, no person I am thankful for is my dear Husband. I want you all to know that I know, I am so lucky to have him. He is my support, he is my rock, and he is my world. I would not be able to be here and do what I do if it wasn’t for him taking care of me and our life at home. We stay in contact everyday in some form or fashion, and this helps us to stay close. I am truly thankful that he is not only willing, but wants to do the work it takes to stay close while we are so far apart. There are not many men in this world willing to make such a sacrifice as he. If you haven’t heard about the next obstacle he faces; it's a Total hip replacement at the ripe young age of 31. This is due to side effects of medications he was on for Ulcerative Colitis. Yet, when I call him and ask how his day is going he’ll tell me “Oh busy, so and so called in sick, but I’m fine.” I say “Really, do they have a broken hip?” He is the strongest person I know both physically and mentally. What he has been though in his life inspires me every day to just keep on going. To push through to the end. Mark, I love you with every fiber in my body. I am thankful that you are you. There is no one I would rather spend forever with. I can’t wait for my leave when I get to see you and hold you in June and celebrate our 2nd Wedding Anniversary and our 6th year together as a couple. I also can’t wait for the 325 days from today to go by. When I will officially be off orders and back home to you for good.
Thank you to all of you who have loved and supported me so far on this deployment. I have felt all of your thoughts and prayers. I love you all and miss you very much. I am so thankful and blessed to a member of your family. I truly wish I could be there and I am so thankful for all you in my life. Take care and have a great Thanksgiving meal. Give everyone a hug and a kiss for me.
Love you all, The Misses

Letter From Iraq- 21 Nov, 08

Well, now I am in Camp Liberty, Iraq. Well that is where I sleep but I work on Camp Cropper. Don’t worry; I don’t have to convoy everyday to and from work. I do have to commute however. It is decent distance and a drive over bumpy roads. So you can’t really sleep to well. I can’t talk much about where I work and you won’t get to see a lot of pictures from their either but I can show you pictures of where I live. I won’t call it home sweet home because home is where The Mr. is, but here it is in all its glory…

Pad 10

During the Day

At Night
Yes it really is that dark outside when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Yes, this is the bathroom and the décor is braded mop heads and bath loufas. I think they are ones people leave in the shower. It was pretty overwhelming the first time I walked in. It’s not too bad though, I really can’t complain. The water is usually warm for showers. That’s what’s most important. I think the cleaning lady is the one who is the decorator.

Letter From Iraq- 21 Nov, 08 Cont..

This is the door way to my room. All our living quarters are surrounded by these barricades. I live in 10-372C with SSG Rose Ledford. This is pretty much what I do in my spare time. Email The Mr. It’s nothing fancy but it is comfortable and it will do. We just got the mini fridge and the TV yesterday. We have about 6 channels to choose from off of the Armed Forces Television Network (AFN). The fridge is to keep milk in so I can have cereal and don’t have to get up for breakfast on my days off. Lazy, I know but it’s nice to sleep in.

This is what I do every night. It may be on these phones or some different ones but I have probably talked to some of you on them. This phone call however was to The Mr. If you think you see a rifle in my arms, you do. We have to carry it everywhere with us. I’m sure when I get home and go to get up from somewhere I’ll look around for it.
We took a tour the 2nd day we were here of the complex however, I do not live by this building. It isn’t finished and it’s not going to be. The former dictator started building it after Desert Storm 1. This is the Victory Over America Palace. Yep, no lie. That is its name. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to go inside any buildings yet but hopefully I’ll get the chance. This was a drive by picture taking. This lake is also manmade and I’m not sure how the water stays in it. For being a desert the dirt does not soak up water very well. When it does rain, water sits around in puddles forever. Well, until next time. Don’t worry there will be more when there is more to tell. Otherwise it is pretty much groundhogs day around here. Love, The Misses

Letter from Iraq- 17 Nov, 08

Hey Everyone,
Well, it’s been exactly one month since I flew across the great big Ocean. Exactly 7119 miles from Home to Baghdad, Iraq. Man that’s far. So let’s see, what have I done for a month? Well, I spent two Weeks in Camp Buerhing, Kuwait doing absolutely nothing. The Army calls that acclimatizing. Here are some photos of what I did there and what it looked like.

This is where I lived. PAD 9. Pretty nice as you can see, but dusty as hell.

This is where I slept with 13 other females and yes it was dusty in here too.

I ate Baskin Robin’s ice cream with the girls, and yes on more than one occasion.
Veronica Badillo, Me, Beth McGuire, Jenni Smith

I decided I make these look good.
These are BCG glasses (aka birth control glasses)

I also decided it’s probably too far to walk home.

I hung out with my friends at Starbucks.

SSG Ledford, SFC Cole, SPC Selvey, SPC Luongo, SSG Kaplan, SSG McGuire, Me, SSG Badillo

Letter from Iraq- 17 Nov, 08 Cont..

Ya, let’s just say I didn’t lose any weight while I was in Kuwait. All these kids are the skinny kids. Then after all that sitting around and doing nothing it was time to say good bye. Half of us have gone on to Camp Bucca, Iraq and the other half are in Camp Liberty, Iraq. We are all wondering one thing. Will be ever see each other again and meet up in Camp Taji, Iraq? That we will have to wait and see I guess, only time will tell. We all hope so.

The E-6 Mafia.
SSG Beth McGuire, SSG Veronica Badillo, SSG Me, SSG Rose Ledford

In between all these smiling faces of mine there were also a lot of tears. Leaving the United States, not knowing what this country had in store for me was honestly, a little scary. I got here and realized it wasn’t so bad. It was difficult to keep in touch during this new time. The internet and the phones were horrible. Long lines, slow, cutting in and out and to top it all off, expensive. I was really missing The Mr. If all of that wasn’t enough, I also was told my 31 year old husband was most likely going to have both his hips replaced. Wow! What is a girl supposed to do with info like that when she has nothing to do? Yep, think about it, a lot. I know The Mr. didn’t want to tell me because he didn’t want me to worry, however I am glad he did. The only thing worse than not being there for him in person when he got the news, would be not being able to be there for him at all. We are still figuring out all the details of what he needs to have done and what I am going to do. Come home now or wait for leave. We are leaning towards waiting for my leave so we can go on vacation somewhere after he has recovered and is out of pain.
On the night of Halloween the last of us packed up our stuff and headed to Baghdad, Iraq. Boy the plane was a tight ride and again, I was a little scared.

Yep, we got to wear our gear and everything. I think that added to the tight fit. Oh ya, and don’t forget my voluptuous hips probably did too. It was a quick fight however. Amazingly I did fall asleep through it, but it was about 0100 in the morning. We landed in Baghdad safe and sound and made it to where we were going to be living. I called The Mr. as soon as I could so he wouldn’t have to worry any more. I could tell he was very worried when he answered the phone. When I called and said, “Hey Sweetie, it’s me. I’m here safe and sound.” The first words out of his mouth were. “Oh thank God.” To be continued…

They are just trees

"I'm going to cut the shit out of the trees today."

"What do you mean cut the shit out of?" The Misses replies hesitantly

"You know prune them."

"Just be careful."

"So how was your day?" I ask wanting to change the subject.

"No really? What do you mean cut the shit out of them?"

"Don't worry, Pops is coming over to teach me."

"But your mom is always worried your dad is going to cut the shit out of her trees!"

"They are just trees they can grow more branches."

Truly I did try to hold back.

"Sweety, it was Pops fault"