FOB Smart at 1730 - Tuesday
The morning arrived sooner than my body would have preferred, although my mind was ready to kick some tail from second one awake! Shoot, there is no way I am even remotely coming close to saying that I feel old; however, these "old" knees of mine ache some much at times that I cannot help the thought from creeping in a little. Regardless, I rose this morning, albeit with more of a clatter to see what was the matter, and began my "normal" routine. Breakfast is one of my favorite times of the day, as it generally has delicious food, good and hot coffee, and the day seems fresh and full of possibilities. Kaesen likes this time of day, too. I met with PRT personnel, FOB visitors including American contractors, a couple of local Afghan partners, and enjoyed each and every conversation today.
Today we observed progress, as we do daily, on nearby construction. I love being around during concrete pouring. This phase of most construction projects, to me, signifies a transition from preparations to actual horizontal or vertical construction. In the case this morning, it means we are about to go vertical a couple of stories. This particular project will enhance the FOB and surrounding area in terms of security, protection, better visibility for such, and it has been enjoyable working with this particular Afghan contractor's on-site project manager. We have more of the same ongoing even beyond the day I finally leave FOB Smart, so I will not be lacking with regard to observations of construction processes I find exciting or interesting.
FOB Smart, and I presume all military installations in Afghanistan, is in a constant state of transition in some form or another. New teams, old teams, new processes, etc. Change is constant in this environment. It seems both familiar and strange when I consider that I am now party, however directly, to transition - both my own and the team I support. Sometimes I wonder about all of the work we have performed in my time here and part of me truly hopes that I have another chance, perhaps with Kaesen, to come back someday and visit the "old" projects and possibly the contractors I have come to know so very well. For now I take satisfaction in knowing that we are here to provide assistance in many ways, in many shapes, and the three PRT engineering teams I have supported have done so by way of construction management.
I have spoken previously herein about the benefits of construction management allowing for instant gratification - which I love. It is through the immediacy of construction represented in taking land, raw and bare, and transforming it into an office building, a FOB, a highway for thousands or hundreds of thousands to traverse, and it feels so good to see this occur over and over again. I feel so very fortunate to have "fallen into" this career. Moreover, it is such a joy to have connected with so many good people in my short time here. The many thousands of photographs I have taken only begin to tell this story. This place is, for me and perhaps many others, a magical land, faraway from my "reality" and has been transformative in so many ways. Mainly though, I presume that I will look back on this experience and feel a sense of immense civic pride.
143, Kaesen.
Good night and good day.
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