FOB Smart at 1800 - Sunday
The week is literally concluding in less than 12 hours and my time here in Afghanistan concludes in about seven days more. The feeling is at once magical and exciting for me; the thought of going home in such a short amount of time is wonderful.
We completed my final dismounted foot patrol in Old Qalat City this morning to observe progress on more than a few of my projects. All is well at them all and it feels great to know I will not be outside the wire for any additional, scheduled, missions. The walk was a little warm, enough to soak my combat shirt through completely, and the air was strong with the familiar smells of Qalat - some good, really good even, and some not-so-good. I felt almost electric as I walked through our perimeter checkpoint, knowing well and good that I had again survived this, the last, of many, many construction missions, whether walking or riding in up-armored vehicles.
During the foot patrol this morning we encountered many familiar faces, the faces of many of our very near, and some dear, neighbors. My trusted Afghan interpreter, Craft, was along for the walk - as always, and we enjoyed the routine of joking and making one another laugh. I will miss Craft. He wants to move to Las Vegas someday, so maybe our paths will cross again. Most of the projects we stopped at today had very positive signs of progress and advancement toward their individual completion. I hope to see their final photography in the coming months.
I wish you all the very best of Sundays, whether morning or night, and hope your week ahead is as wonderful as mine. I leave FOB Smart in three days!
143, Kaesen.
Good night and good day.
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