Salutations from Georgia! A few more weeks and we're out of here! While this has been a far more mild winter than usual (no snow = big change), I'm not really going to miss the lack of privacy. Admittedly, getting to Iraq will take a little longer yet, and we're still living in tents once we arrive in Kuwait, but still and all, we're all looking forward to the facilities in theater than here.
The challenge this week is choosing to not let my head explode with every little thing that comes along. Our neighbors here on the base are doing their big final exam this week, and so keeping up with what their subordinate elements are doing with my facilities is an interesting challenge. Ultimately, no issue exists, just encouraging the neighbors to coordinate first is an educational process for everyone (NB: which is the odd element here. I mean, we're military. We always must coordinate for facilities, regardless of where we find ourselves. Why this place would be different escapes me).
For those who are home: today is Valentine's Day. Don't wait until you're away to let your Valentine know you're thinking of them!
Upcoming blog idea I have is to post a packing list. Regardless of all the net searches, and all the folks I ask, very little soldierly wisdom on this topic is posted. Even my brother couldn't produce a written list of advice (not upset, just an observation, packing for this gig has been very frustrating with the current utter lack of guidance and insight). So, look for that in future issues.
Spoke to a good friend about some marital issues he's been having, which are being magnified by the deployment. Please pray for him and them.
Thank you again, for your prayers. As usual, keeping the pride out of the way of being a good, calm, positive, effective officer is the key for me right now.
Enjoy!
2 comments:
Mark, I know you'll appreciate this. Prof Sid Johnson was someone I admired greatly in the IU German Dept, not because he was an admired scholar so much as he was a 'gentle giant,' if you will. I recall once seeing him externally appear slightly irritated, but underneath I knew he was furious (more like fully pissed off!) Because he was not easy to anger, such a meager alteration in his demeanor spoke volumes. I have often asked myself how he managed to deflect so many of the childish quibbles of his peers while dept chair.
Yoga teaches as it's first defining principle the rule of ahimsa, or non-violence. Other principles follow, but the last of these loops back to ahimsa, stating that if you practice it, then you're practicing all the others already. As a yoga teacher of mine says, "Don't do anything to cause yourself pain; there's already enough of it in the world." One of our greatest assets is the ability to re-channel the course of our thought, to change what we've habituated these 39+ years. Realizing it is the first step toward putting it into action. Cheers mate, you're on your way!
hey there mark! i think of you at everyone one of gabes swim meets when we sing the national anthem. it means more to me, than ever.
peace...k
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