AF Day 139

FOB Smart at 2354 - Friday

The FOB was abuzz today with various missions and activities. Familiarity has finally set in and it feels "normal" once again. We had movie night tonight and I spoke with Kaesen a couple of times. So I would have to say, all in all, it was a wonderful day.

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 138

FOB Smart at 2359 - Thursday

Life as we know it, as I have been saying, emoting, and sometimes - shouting - recently, is not always normal, regular, routine, or relaxing. It is, however, life. Life is life. Life will always be a rewarding opportunity for learning, growing, challenge, success, and happiness. Life is what we make of it - always.

I spoke with my son again two times today. He is a little spitfire of a boy. When I spoke with him minutes ago, he told me that he loves me "this much." "This much" is as far as we can both stretch out our arms and then even more! Gosh, I love him so dearly.

FOB Smart was humping and hustling today. I have missions booked regularly and routinely once again. This is something I have been very much looking forward to resuming. I will tell you all about it, or as much as I can without telling you all about, once it resumes. In the meantime, as you may guess, it is all about reconnecting with my contractors and coworkers to ensure we are all doing the very best we are able to in the most efficient manner possible.

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 137

FOB Smart at 2200 - Wednesday

I have returned! FOB Smart welcomed me back this afternoon with open arms and it felt so very wonderful to be amongst friends and familiar faces. The journey since September 5, when I departed FOB Smart for Kandahar and beyond on my first R&R, has been long, exhausting, wonderful, miserable, and every emotion in between. I have eaten little today, as my stomach has been in knots. I look forward to getting back to work in earnest.

I spoke with my son, Kaesen, for a few brief seconds earlier. He was happy to be on the road again with his mother back to Washington. They had stayed at a hotel near Boise, Idaho, the night before and he was able to swim again - which he absolutely loves. He is a good little boy and I miss him so.

FOB Smart is a wonderful place to be right now. I met my new administrative supervisor from FOB Apache, just down the road. He is the new Project Engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Qalat Resident Office. He is an incredibly nice guy with a very unique and positive outlook. Another new friend made!

Tomorrow is another day

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 136

Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar, Afghanistan, at 1815 – Tuesday

Last night in Dubai, I fell asleep in a nondescript hotel room located not too far away from the airport. The hotel was nice enough, the room nice enough, and the air was cold enough. However, while I found it hard to fall asleep until I remembered that I had a sound machine app on my Samsung Galaxy, the sleep was soothing nonetheless to my heart and soul. Obviously my thoughts were of Kaesen as I drifted off…

The hotel I stayed at in Dubai, Ibis, had a lovely breakfast buffet this morning complete with cereals, juices, veal sausage, scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, and delicious croissants. The cappuccino machine rocked and my fellow US Army Corps of Engineers traveler, Jeff Yost, and I shared a table and conversation.

My Boeing 737-400 from Dubai to Kandahar flew north-northwest to skirt around Iran and then back south to the Marine Corps’ Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, and finally to Kandahar Airfield. As we flew over the Persian Gulf, and when looking out and down, over the vastness of the Middle East it was striking in so many wonderful and terrifying ways. Conflict is hard on anyone, or can be, or should be, but even in the midst of the lifelong strife known to this region, beauty is everywhere. In the smiling eyes behind the veils, the smiling eyes of the young children playing in airports, on streets, and in buildings we are surrounded by, life is blooming here too.

My arrival at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) was met with both anticipation and excitement as I look ahead tomorrow to return to FOB Smart. KAF, as I have mentioned before is a mass of humanity from all walks of life, including America, Canada, England, Scotland, Turkey, Eastern Europe, India, Pakistan, and all parts in between. I do not personally enjoy being at KAF, especially when compared to FOB Smart in Qalat, Afghanistan, but primarily because of the amount of people confined to such a small space, the rocket attacks which occur nearly daily, and mostly because of the open-air sewage lagoon to the west of the airfield that permeates the air like a thick blanket of warm air scented with the all-too-familiar waste byproducts of humankind. But hey, life could be much worse…

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 135

Dubai, UAE, at 2115 – Monday

My day, well this day anyway, started in the air over the Atlantic enroute to the Middle East. As I write this, my son is likely fast asleep and dreaming of his daddy. Sleep is always difficult for me, for any appreciable length of time, aboard aircraft. This flight was no exception; however, I did manage a few hours of restless sleep and when it was there, so was my beautiful son.

We landed in Dubai without event and much to my satisfaction at around 1925 Dubai time. I bumped into a fellow US Army Corps of Engineers coworker at Washington-Dulles last night. He has a reservation at a hotel near the Dubai airport. I ended sharing a cab with him here and rented a room. With nearly 15 hours of wait between my two flights to get to Kandahar, it will be good to sleep in a bed, connect with home via the internet, and soak in a hot bath for the last time until December – we have showers, with running hot water, but no bath tubs for our leisure.

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 134

Washington D.C. at 2200 – Sunday

My day started early this morning with my son, Kaesen sleeping softly and contently in my arms. In fact, he slept this way all last night and this morning. My sleep was fitful and, while I was indeed tired, I continually woke with thoughts of my son and our future together. What a wonderful way to sleep, or try to sleep, and an even better way to wake.

I flew from El Paso, Texas, to Chicago, Illinois, to Washington D.C. today and tonight. I fly out of D.C. in approximately 30 minutes and I have spoken with Kaesen several times in the last hour and several times since I left El Paso. The striking feeling I am feeling now is the love I have for him and the sadness I feel with leaving him once again to go to work – to go to war. I will soon be here in the States to celebrate the Christmas holiday, and New Year’s holiday, come December for my second R&R. I am so looking forward to seeing him then and always.

With the American portion of my return travel now complete, and only a 13-hour flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and a 2-hour flight to Kandahar, Afghanistan, remaining, I look ahead to reuniting with my comrades in Qalat, and I feel positive about my return. While I have been away, they have also been on my mind, along with my son, family, and friends back home.

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 133

Las Cruces, NM, at 0945 - Saturday

There is a good morning to be had for one and for all today here at the Summerlin house in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Kaesen is sitting quietly eating Lucky Charms and watching another episode of "Caillou." Little Jonny is still sleeping. Jill and Blake are at White Sands picking up her car. The dog is quiet and the cat is too. All that's left is me - and I am sitting here, at the kitchen table, going through the motions to enjoy my day and prepare for my departure. It is very comfortable here right this very moment, here alone with Kaesen and the words I am writing.

What adventures can Kaesen and I complete today...?

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 132

Las Cruces, NM, at 2359 - Friday

Oktoberfest today at White Sands Missile Range! Kaesen and I really enjoyed visiting there with my brother and his family this evening and night, as well as their friends and my fellow military brothers- and sisters-in-arms. We had a terrific time - Kaesen ran wild at times, danced on the German dance floor, we sampled the beers, a few times over, and socialized. It was refreshing, I should note, that quite few of my brother's friends knew of me and my recent and prior service. They were respectful, cognizant, and appreciative of such, some to the point of sharing special words of encouragement, especially as I prepare today to start my return journey tomorrow to Afghanistan. Being there reminded me of the tight-knight community that we have on FOB Smart and throughout PRT Zabul.

Before Oktoberfest this evening, Kaesen and I again swam in the pool, played in and out of the pool, ate Whataburger for lunch, and soaked up the time we have together as much as and in the best way possible. I love this boy and he loves me - what else is there right now? Nothing and there needn't be either! Whatever happens from here, Kaesen definitely knows his Daddy loves him unconditionally and will always protect him.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 058

Kaesen Thieman Summerlin enjoyed the day - again, with great abandon on 22 September 2011. We swam and soaked in the hot tub and swimming pool at Blake's (my brother) house and later left for a little shrimp lunch at Red Lobster. We then finished the outing with an ice cream treat from Baskin-Robbins.

AF Day 131

Las Cruces, NM, at 1900 - Thursday

All told, this R&R, while it has been filled with issues beyond my comprehension or preference, has also been one wonderful day after another with the joy and beauty my son, Kaesen, shares with me unabated and without any reason other than he loves me. My next R&R in December with him will be even better, and the next, and the next, etc. I love this little boy more than I have loved anything else in my life. Incredible, this is the one word I would use to describe him if asked for one word alone.

Today we watched more "Caillou," swam at the pool, ate lunch a Red Lobster, so he could have some shrimp, and enjoyed ice cream from Baskin-Robbins, he had Pink Bubble Gum and I, Pralines and Cream, - of course! More fun is planned for tomorrow, including an Oktoberfest celebration at White Sands with my brother and family. Kaesen and I will also find more fun things to do before that, which will start at 1730 tomorrow.

I am not one for counting the days, especially those related to vacation and R&R, but these trying days for me are coming to an end - literally, as I leave from El Paso, Texas, on Sunday to start the long and tiring journey back to FOB Smart. I look ahead with fondness at the prospect of seeing my FOB Smart comrades. In the short time there with them, they have become an extension of my family. Good times to be had once more... It goes without saying that my only reservation, at this point, with leaving on Sunday is the thought of leaving my sweet son again. At least it will only be until Christmas before we reunite again for several weeks.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 130

Las Cruces, NM, at 1710 - Tuesday

Kaesen played all morning and watched a few episodes of "Caillou," which I only recently learned of because of Kaesen. It is pronounced "kai-you" and is a children's program about a little boy, just like Kaesen. We made pretend forts on the couch, made believe we were on construction projects, ate popcorn for a snack, which he loves, and later left to go explore Las Cruces together. We found three parks and a Dairy queen while we were out! Kaesen loved the slides, the monkey bars, the pond, the fountain, the statues, the grass - he ran forever, and literally loved everything he found and played on or with today! You know it was a great day for son and father together.

What else could make this day even better as the sun is soon to set in the west across town and across New Mexico? I think a little Mexican food would do the trick. It's not as though I eat very much of such when I am able to... right?! Actually, maybe a dip in the evening pool and hot tub could do the job. How about a cold beer? Why, the very thing that does and will continue to make it better is the loving arms of my boy, Kaesen, and his brilliance and effortless, easygoing attitude. Yes, Kaesen will make the perfect ending to another wonderful day here in sunny Las Cruces.

Tomorrow holds yet even more opportunity for fun and laughter...

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 057

Kaesen Thieman Summerlin at play at three different parks found on 21 September 2011 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with his daddy. Kaesen laughed and played hard all late morning and into the afternoon. We also stopped at Dairy Queen for a hot dog, fries, and an ice cream for Kaesen! It was great fun no doubt.

AF Day 129

Las Cruces, NM, at 1330 - Tuesday

Hello, friends, I am enjoying yet another relaxing day of R&R... well, as relaxing as I can possibly make it considering my present circumstances back home and my needs and wants that can be attended to in such a short time frame here in Las Cruces. Kaesen and I enjoyed breakfast out earlier this morning with my brother, Blake, at Village Inn. Spending time with family is so important and spending time with my brother allows me to reconnect and look ahead to the future. I would love to live close to my siblings and/or parents again someday. Who knows what the future holds, but if it holds this, then anything in life is possible.

Kaesen and I are considering a little pool time later. Right now we are playing with his new construction toy tools, his new construction toy trucks, and anything and everything else he seems to find in his tool/toy box! Kaesen's imagination and communication ability is in full-effect now; I mean, this little guys thinks out loud so much and he shares all of his thoughts, as 4-year-old children do, and dreams and wants and desires. Oh my! LOL

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 128

Las Cruces, NM, at 1700 - Monday

Kaesen and I woke up extra early today, around 0400, so that we could drive Kimberly from Las Cruces to El Paso. She flew north to Devils Lake to pickup our Ford Edge from one of our two storage units and also a few things out of our household goods. Kaesen and I left Kimberly at the drop-off location and immediately drove to IHOP for breakfast nearby in El Paso. We later drove back west on I-10 toward Las Cruces and spent more than an hour sleeping in my truck, with Kaesen laying on my chest in a snuggle position, and a little while longer waiting for the outlet stores to open. A little lunch, a few more toys purchased for you-know-who, Kaesen, and we made it back in time for a long afternoon nap!

I'm hearing Taco Bell calling for dinner, which under the circumstances of having not eaten there in over four months, sounds terrific. Maybe a movie with Kaesen tonight, maybe a little hot tub relaxing with Kaesen tonight, and all for me! I love it when I am with my son.

I chatted with CPT Dan Leonard, TSgt John Morgan, and a few other friends from FOB Smart yesterday. I am always glad to know that they are safe. Capt Jonathan Ball leaves on his R&R next month, which I am sure his Gina is looking forward to especially as is he. CPT Leonard left recently to meet his fiance in Europe for a cruise during his R&R. Great people with great people – FOB Smart personnel truly are and I appreciate them for such.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 127

Las Cruces, NM, at 2000 - Sunday

Tomorrow Kaesen and I will drop Kimberly at the airport in El Paso, Texas, so she can fly to Devils Lake, North Dakota, to pick up our Ford Edge from storage and drive it back to Las Cruces in time to pickup Kaesen and drop me off at the airport, again in El Paso, to fly back to the Middle East next Sunday afternoon. Kaesen is excited to do a little more shopping tomorrow, as I told him we would find him a new "cow truck" - which you and I know as a semi tractor-trailer.

We played by the pool again today, enjoyed the hot tub, I enjoyed a few beers, and we ate a really good dinner with my brother and his family. I'd say the day was perfect in all of its quirkiness.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 126

Las Cruces, NM, at 1815 - Saturday

Kaesen and I awoke this morning with visions - of all things - chili dogs from Wienerschnitzel. Okay, maybe it was I with the vision and he with the routine bowl of Lucky Charms, but we did go out together and they were delicious. We later spent hours at the pool and hot tub, me with a few Tecate cans and Kaesen with cold water and snacks. He continued swimming once his momma and aunt returned from a little shopping and I finished the day with a brief nap. He later joined me for a nap, but I was up and he was down. Funny, it was a perfect day of sorts with nothing to do but relax... or in my case, try to relax.

There is not much else to share or say from this day except that I am in good spirits, somewhat anyway, and my time here with Kaesen is magnificent, rewarding, special, loving, and all in good fun. Soon it will be Christmastime and he will be with me again! Until then, I have much more to share with him tomorrow through the following Sunday. Life keeps getting better - seriously.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 125

Las Cruces, NM, at 0800 - Friday

Kaesen and I woke early - again - to see off my brother, his wife, and their son to both work and school. It is hard to believe that Kaesen will be in this regular routine in about a year's time, granted that Kimberly and I agree on placing him in school a year early, to as long as another two years. Whether five or six years old, Kaesen is so close to that life transition of school and it has been an amazing journey so far for him, for me, and for us. Anyway, we said our daily goodbyes and began our new temporary routine of a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal for Kaesen, an energy drink for dad, and a quiet rumbling throughout the house complete with airplane and helicopter sounds, from Kaesen's toys, tricks and treats, and everything wonderful from the imaginations of a 4-year-old boy and his eager-to-share father.

Tomorrow holds the potential for a family trip to White Sands and possibly Alamogordo for a balloon festival and picnic, as well as a trip to either White Sands or Ft. Bliss to see Uncle Blake's "Afghanistan trucks," as Kaesen likes to call all military vehicles. Blake does have a wide array of similar MRAP vehicles available for my son to see up close. Regardless of our plans, I am certain the day will be filled with fun and excitement for my son and Blake's son, Jonny.

This deployment has brought about many life changes for Kimberly, for Kaesen, and for me. Some may be long-lasting while others appear to be short-lived. No matter the final outcome, the love for my son will endure and grow. I have grown quite fond of my FOB Smart comrades and look ahead to more missions and more opportunities for excellence with each of them in our daily routines. Change, from my perspective, are the very defining moments in our lives that shape our character, excise the unnecessary baggage, and implement the needed growth to ensure our futures are bright and full of promise. So many have shared in my life the realization that we are defined not by the events that affect us in life, rather by how we react to such - and I agree.

Charles Swindoll says it the best below.

"Attitude"

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 124

Las Cruces, NM, at 0645 - Thursday

The rain began yesterday evening around 1700 and has not completely stopped since. I awoke earlier to thunder and lightning, outside in the air - of course, and quickly rose to see the display along with dawn's early light. Weather storms in the Southwest are, for me, awe inspiring and can become the great equalizer in desert environments. This storm has packed a wallop of rain into the local area and the air smells clean and fresh, as one would imagine Tucson or Phoenix, Arizona, after one of their common desert storms. In the sense that the rains come and go, I love this type of weather - in the Southwest.

I believe bowling is on the agenda for this late morning. Kaesen has not bowled before and we are hoping this alley has the retractable bumpers to use during our games. I bought Kaesen a soccer ball the other day and told him we would go to the park and starting practicing, as in I would begin teaching him the finer points of the game. The only hitch is the rain we have had two days consecutively; yesterday morning was not rain-filled, but the ground was wet from intermittent spitting and misting. So, maybe this afternoon we can hit a park and start our fun father-son drills on the field.

You know something? I miss my friends at FOB Smart. They are just as important in my family of friends as any have been or will be in the future. I think often of their safety while I am away and know they are enduring the daily grind in good spirits.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 123

Las Cruces, NM, at 1600 - Wednesday

Kaesen had so much fun today at the bouncy playground, which turned out to be indoors and with full air conditioning; a must for him and for me. We laughed and played, well - he played - and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I cannot believe how much he has grown in four months, let alone the last four years. What an amazing boy we have in Kaesen Thieman Summerlin!

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 122 - Kaesen's Birthday

Las Cruces, NM, at 0800 - Tuesday

Today is my son's fourth birthday and I am so thrilled to be here with him to celebrate. This time last week I was in Afghanistan, waiting and wondering for him. We are driving over to El Paso, Texas, today for a little fun and shopping and dining. Since we have already had a birthday party with my family several days ago, tonight we are going to Chuck-E-Cheese's here in Las Cruces, New Mexico, for even more birthday excitement!

Live well, be well, and achieve everything, friends and family.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 056

Las Cruces, NM, at 0745 - Tuesday

To my dear son of four years old today. Happy 4th Birthday, Kaesen!

On September 13, 2007, you, my son, Kaesen Thieman Summerlin, were born after over 36 hours of labor by your Momma. We endured so much to have you, to love you, and to be blessed by your presence. Today, four years later, you, my son, are a happy, smart, energetic, loving, and carefree boy. In you we found and continue to find our solace, our peace, our countenance, and our very desires for greatness. Kaesen, you have grown so much in your four years and we have enjoyed every waking and resting moment with you. We look ahead to the next year and the next and so on. In this shared vision we see many great moments and opportunities for sharing, caring, and loving you in the same way you have always been - with the best that we are and have to offer you.

I celebrate you, Kaesen, and wish you to know how loved you are now and forever. Happy Birthday, dear son.

I love you, Kaesen.

Daddy

Special Post No. 055

 

Celebrating Kaesen's fourth birthday a few days early in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with family. These photos were taken 10 September and Kaesen's birthday is actually 13 September.

AF Day 121

Las Cruces, NM, at 0815 - Monday

What will today hold for this weary soul? What treasures await in the hours of sun-drenched daylight ahead. I see the day unfolding with time spent in the hot tub, the pool, maybe a little necessity shopping, maybe a little fun shopping for my son, and with plenty of time for reflection and redirection no doubt. Mondays are always a welcomed sight for this man.

Kaesen woke with me today. He told me, "Daddy, I love waking up with you before Momma and spending time with you." Incredible from a 4-year-old boy. Incredible words from any son to any father, yet they came from my son and were meant only for me - his daddy. I love this little boy so very much and am so thankful for his life and spirit. He has also said how much he misses me in Afghanistan, and more, how much he loves me - the only words this father ever needs to hear.

Live well, friends, be well, and perform well.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 120

Las Cruces, NM, at 2359 - Sunday

On this day ten years ago our nation suffered the single greatest attack ever on our soil and our hearts and minds. We overcame the tragedy and overcame the terror to become a new nation of souls whose singular purpose is to root out evil in the lands far away from ours and make life better in general for those so very less fortunate than our own. I honor all of those who have died at home and abroad, those who have fought for life and liberty, and those who still choose to stand up in the line of defense so that honor and justice will prevail.

My days and nights seems to be confused by my internal clock vs. the clock dictated by where my body currently resides. I find myself waking and sleeping on Afghanistan time here in America. Friends send me messages from Afghanistan and sometimes it feels as though I should still be there, just a few buildings away, helping their recovery efforts. I know they, because they have told me so, want me to be here and enjoying my R&R, but concern for the safety of friends and the well being of friends overrides thinking at times. I will return soon.

On this beautiful New Mexcio summer morning we woke and watched Kaesen smash apart his Pinata, which he did very well with the help of his cousin, Jonny. The rest of today was filled with wide-ranging emotions and happiness with the time given to spend with my son and family. Tomorrow my brother, et al. go back to work and school. Kimberly, Kaesen, and I have plans for exploring and making the remainder of my time home on this R&R memorable.

I would be lying if I said all is well and that life is excellent, but life does not always happen as we plan for and devise. Like everyone else who encounters trials and tribulations in their own lives, I always offer the advice as follows. Persevere, overcome, and plan for a better future. While these words are not always welcomed at the time they are spoken, they are so very true.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day,

AF Day 119

Las Cruces, NM, at 2200 - Saturday

We celebrated my son's fourth birthday today with certain of his paternal grandparents, paternal aunts and an uncle, his handsome cousin, Jonny, and obviously his momma and daddy. The party was terrific; Kaesen was so excited and we were too. Kaesen unwrapped walkie-talkies, a Leapster, Lincoln Logs, clothing, assorted toys, and other goodies. We have a stuffed Pinata to break tomorrow morning during the daylight hours on my brother's back patio. Tuesday, his actual birthday, we will visit Chuck-E-Cheese and have a good-old time!

Kaesen said he was "just so happy, Daddy." I am just to happy too, Son. Tomorrow we will have yet another wonderful day with momma and all of your family gathered here to share time with you, bud. We have been swimming every day and soaking in the hot tub, so I am certain we will do more of the same there as well.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 118

Las Cruces, NM, at 0420 - Friday

In the same that we always want to expect the best and hope for the easiest lives possible, as I have mentioned before, we do not always endure such and often it can be the opposite. My circadian rhythm is completely disrupted from the 10,000-mile journey and travel back in time to the day before place of familiarity. I say familiarity, but with all of our household goods packed neatly away in storage in Devils Lake, North Dakota, the familiarity is from the family surrounding me.

Friends, I am unsure of a great many things in my life right now, but I am certain of these following truths. I love myself. I love my family. My son is incredibly beautiful and inspires me to greatness. I know that, while it will continue to not always be easy, living my life will always include the love of this four-year old boy. My intent here is not to be cryptic or aloof, rather only to share, albeit slowly and carefully, the experiences of my life as I endure the deployment, which I love, in Afghanistan, and all of the weird on wonderful hardships along the way, including when I am on R&R leave.

Las Cruces is a wonderfully peaceful town at 0420 in the morning. My brother's home overlooks the city from the east to the west. The lights of this American city shine as though a beacon in the night calling all lost souls to lay their weary heads down and relax. I am relaxing now.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 117

Las Cruces, New Mexico, at 1815 - Thursday

So, today, Thursday, has been very long. I left Dubai, UAE, at 0015 on 8 September; however, that was Dubai time and I flew into Thursday here in the States. Let me tell y'all this, the flight and travel time totals over 24 hours, but the time difference and the 10,000+ mile distance difference makes for one heck of a long Thursday regardless of where you start and where you finish.

I am at my brother's house, and his lovely wife Jill's, with Kimberly and Kaesen. My first order of business was the foot bath and then the hot tub. Life is different here yet the same and familiar. Words cannot describe what I feel right now. I should share many more thoughts later with a little rest and more clarity.

I am so happy to be around my wife, my son, my family, and I am thankful to be alive.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 116

Kandahar Airfield at 1000 - Wednesday

It is late Tuesday night back home as I write this post. I have not eaten since early lunch yesterday and feel a little appetite returning. My life has been shaken significantly in the last 10 days, so my flight that leaves here in less than five hours is looking all the more appealing. I suppose it will feel similarly to when I arrived and flew over the war zone we call Afghanistan. My emotions are on extra-high overload today for some reason.

I Skyped with Kaesen, my dad, Viviane, and Kimberly earlier. They all looked well. Kaesen seems genuinely excited to see his daddy after having been apart for over four months straight. He is my little bud for sure and that can never be ripped away from me. Everything else in life is workable, changeable, doable, survivable, and certainly not without memorable experiences along the way.

I will be home from Thursday, 8 September through Sunday 25 September, and enjoying the Las Cruces weather with family and, hopefully, sipping on a few cold beers.

Cheers, y'all.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 115

Kandahar Airfield at 2315 - Tuesday

What can I write to emote exactly my current thoughts? How about this: Life is never what we think it should be, rather it is how it is going to be. Life is meant to be difficult so that we can appreciate the times that are good. You know something? Life is all about diversity and trials. Life is about how we deal with such to overcome and be better to those we value the most. Life is about knowing that we have no control over anything but our own thoughts and actions. Life is... about living to the fullest.

I leave Kandahar in less than 18 hours. I am so ready for this my first R&R.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 114 - Labor Day

Kandahar Airfield at 2020 - Monday

I flew to Kandahar Airfield this morning/afternoon. My first R&R is so close that I can taste it, y'all! My flight was scheduled to pick me up at 1315 today, but it arrived at 1120. Luckily, I was prepared and ready to fly when they showed early. I briefly Skyped with my dad tonight before my internet connection failed. It returned, but not before I left and had dinner... at T.G.I. Fridays! Yes, we have regular American amenities here at KAF.

Tomorrow is a slow workday for me, as I am not at work but I am still working... sounds nice, right. As one friend put it, I am living in the lap of USACE-provided luxury nowadays. Well, maybe not luxury, but it is refreshing to be here if only briefly before I begin my 25 travel hours on Wednesday evening.

I am so excited for cold beers, good Mexican food, and - of course - my family! I cannot wait to hug my wife and son on Thursday!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 113

FOB Smart at 2359 - Sunday

I moved from my connex container into a solid-walled, blast-proof - well, blast-resistant, and completely dark room today. I spent much of the day and evening, along with my fellow comrades John Morgan, Israel Garcia, and Craft moving my gear, furniture, etc. into my new dwelling. All is well and I am tired again from all the moving action. I will have a really nice place to live in when I return.

FOB life is quickly evolving back to a "normal," which often includes random "excitement" here and there for us all. We are constantly planning and implementing new projects to enhance on state of security. We will not, hopefully, experience anything so dramatic or scary moving forward once we have completed all of our planned upgrades.

Tomorrow I leave for Kandahar Airfield. Wednesday I leave for home... and Kimberly... and Kaesen... and my family.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 112

FOB Smart at 1900 - Saturday

Another day has passed and I feel very much like I am ready to come home for a few weeks of R&R. I spent a better part of today packing and moving my office into a storage container so that the electrical rewiring my office and quarters can occur during my time away this month. I have more to pack and move tomorrow. Since I have already packed my office furniture and most of my computer peripherals, it appears that our previously routine movie night will be happening in Capt Jonathan Ball's room, along with CPT Daniel Simon Leonard, TSgt John Morgan, TSgt Israel Garcia, and Craft.

I spoke with K&K this morning; they made it safely to Utah where they will be staying until Monday. They will then head south to Phoenix and stay with my parents. Then they will head to New Mexico where we will all be staying with my brother and sister-in-law for two weeks. I am so stoked for this, I cannot even tell you how much.

Life has resumed here at FOB Smart and is beginning to return to normal after a trying six days. We have major construction planned. I enjoy the construction management piece of my job immensely. The rest of the "excitement" is obviously less desirable.

Tonight I was presented with a Civilian of the Month award for June 2011, which I am told was selected from over 300 civilians. The award is from the 466th Air Expeditionary Group out of Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, which is our commanding unit, for all US Air Force Provincial Reconstruction Teams, in Kabul. It is nice to be recognized.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 111

FOB Smart at 1300 - Friday

All I can think about right this moment is Kaesen Thieman Summerlin and how very much I love him, my son and best little bud ever.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 110

FOB Smart at 2359 - Thursday

Tomorrow is Friday and it seems as though I have not had any rest in four days. We have been working around the clock to ensure life returns to normal here, or at least to a normal with a new and improved perimeter, capable of thwarting the worst imaginable scenarios again. My comrades here at FOB Smart, at FOB Apache, at USACE KAF, and elsewhere have been performing very well under the considerable pressure we all face. Rest is coming for me in a few seconds...

It rained yesterday here in Qalat. Incredibly, the rain began falling around 1100 yesterday and was steady until around 0600 this morning, or shortly thereafter. It really did a number on the dust levels in the air during cleaning operations on the FOB. It did not smell as it smells in Arizona after a good rain; quite the opposite, but the rain itself was welcomed.

I cannot begin to describe my innermost feelings right now, at least with regard to the last 96+ hours. I can say that I am all fired up and ready for the best in life!

K&K leave for Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, today. We are all very excited. I am so very, very excited!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.