AF Day 149

FOB Smart at 1200 - Monday

Lunch was good, breakfast was not an option, or a viable option anyway, and with two missions and ten projects observed today, I am on fire, y'all! I love the pace of the space in the place I am currently facing. Or, I like it here and it likes me here, or something... I have more meetings later and more paperwork to process.

I spoke with Kaesen this morning, which was his last night, and he sounded very sweet and soft to Daddy. What a boy! He is so excited to fly on an airplane with Daddy for Christmas - twice! I am ready to be with him again; it has been only two weeks or so since I last held him in El Paso, Texas, but it seems like two years. December will come soon enough I am sure.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 148

FOB Smart at 2115 - Sunday

Sunday night here in Qalat, Afghanistan, and all is quite well at the moment. I'd say today was especially relaxing, although I had three contractor meetings and various project management tasks to complete. Tomorrow is another day of a similar nature and missions are pending throughout the week ahead. I'm set for now with schedules and work plans.

We have many interesting projects that are progressing in various stages of construction and stages of completion all throughout Zabul Province. What an incredible opportunity for greatness we all have here in a land with much less than we have back home in terms of physical resources, economic capacity, and population capacity for advancement. Thank you for the opportunity to serve is a common thought within.

I just finished a phone call with Kaesen; the longest of his four short years and the best I have ever had with him. We talked about his morning, his play plans, what he was eating, the tomatoes he and his momma just picked from the garden, etc. He is a talkative little boy; just like his daddy! I adore him and enjoy speaking with him in the way we do now.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 059

Kaesen Thieman Summerlin, my beautiful son, with me at the airport in El Paso, Texas, waiting for my flight to leave to return to work in Afghanistan. Leaving my son of mine was incredibly difficult for me. I cannot wait to see him in December for Christmas!

AF Day 147

FOB Smart at 1400 - Saturday

Saturdays, we all love them and need the, right? Yes, we do! today has been wonderful so far. Two early missions into Qalat and I feel great. My alarm, 0500, came early today, but then again 0500 is always early. We observed progress at a two municipal buildings, two perimeter wall projects, and hospital expansion. We also delivered much-needed supplies to another government compound. I love the pace when it is fast, forward, and ongoing.

More meetings today and tomorrow and many more missions ahead; I am so excited! Another staff meeting shortly and tonight is the FOB "Movie Night," so there is much to be accomplished before this day is completed.

I miss my son. I cannot wait to see him at Christmas.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 146

FOB Smart at 2359 - Friday

Friday night, late, and all is well. Peace be unto you, my friends, and may your day back home be well. Today was rather slow, which allowed for some additional paperwork catch-up. Several of our team were away on missions. I have two missions myself tomorrow morning.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 145

FOB Smart at 2130 - Thursday

Another fine day has passed by us here in Afghanistan and I am living the dream! Well, the dream is certainly attainable anyway... We worked hard today and I am a tired boy once more. The jet lag seems to be waning a bit, but I can still feel the effects of the journey - for all of the obvious and not-so-obvious reasons.

Tomorrow I have a few meetings planned and a lot of paperwork to catch up on over the next great many weeks - until I leave for R&R again in December. This winter will allow for a lot of the catch-up to ensue and we'll be caught-up in no time.

Kaesen sounded so sweet and loving when we talked earlier; he was on his way to "school," which he loves so much. At 4 years old, he is quite the big man on campus I hear.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 144

FOB Smart at 2200 - Wednesday

Life is not always easy, but it is always life. Roger. Life is certainly not without risk or reward. I am so thankful to be alive. I am more so thankful for the love of my beautiful son!

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

4 Oct 11 - KT Summerlin

4 Oct 11 - KT Summerlin

Paradise in my mind is not that which I can touch or feel or smell right now. For me, paradise is the memory of my son sleeping so softly next to me, or me holding him as a baby and thinking how incredibly much I love him, or walking along with his hand in mine and knowing he loves me for being his father, his friend, and his protector from all of his concerns. Paradise is found not always within a vacation, or a break, or a distance away from where we are right now; rather, it is often right here... within our very thoughts. I love you, son.

AF Day 143

FOB Smart at 2145 - Tuesday

Tuesdays are "Taco Night" here at Forward Operating Base Smart and we enjoy them tremendously. Tonight did not disappoint and happy faces were all around once the dining facility (DFAC) opened their doors at 1700. While this is not usually considered a highlight in others places with other faces, but here - everything counts because we are so far removed from our loved ones, our favorite routines, and our "normal" lives that evening something as trivial as a food night can have lasting effects.

Tomorrow we will welcome Mr. Edward Ciccarelli, a former PRT Engineer's Captain, US Air Force Reserve, who decided to return and serve here again for another year. His dedication is commendable and we eagerly anticipate his service amongst us.

Missions today and tomorrow did and will not disappoint. My routine has been reestablished and I am striking forward with the old zest as with before. Time has really flown by here in Afghanistan; five months nearly and everything, while change is commonplace, feels the same yet different all at once. I have mentioned many times before how honored and privileged I feel to working with such an amazing group of professionals.

Kaesen and I had a chance to speak for a few minutes on his way to school this morning. He sounds so innocent when we talk... most of the time. He always has something funny or happy to share with me and I truly live for such moments.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 142

FOB Smart at 2300 - Monday

Night has befallen this quiet, well - not so quiet, town here in Zabul Province once again. Night has overtaken the bright day and replaced it, for only a little while with darkness and rest for "them," for our neighbors, and for "us."

Wow, what a foot patrol today. In terms of overall length and time to complete - the longest of my tour yet. We were all essentially smoked after my morning mission and were only halfway there before the next one, a mounted combat patrol with dismounts, kicked off into New Qalat City, which is only a few kilometers from our forward operating base, FOB Smart. I feel great, although tired again, and grateful from today's missions of mine.

The holidays are fast approaching. My plans include flying home again, well home to my brother's house in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with my son meeting me there, along with two or all four parents, siblings, nephews and potentially nieces, and any other family considering the journey over. Thanksgiving here will be a treat for us, as celebrating with our brothers-in-arms, and sisters too, will help us all remember exactly why we do what we do on a daily basis. It is hard and difficult to be away from our families and friends, but voluntarily being in harm's way to ensure another people have our same opportunities - well, Thanksgiving kind of celebrates this idea and more.

Look at me on my soapbox... well, you get the drift anyway and I am sure most, if not all, of you can appreciate a good holiday meal, right?!

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 141

FOB Smart at 2359 - Sunday

What a day and I am exhausted. Good things are afoot in Zabul Province... I just wish the "bad guys" out there would realize that peace and reintegration are the long term answers to their needs and, more so, the needs of the Afghan people. Enough said.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 140

FOB Smart at 2355 - Saturday

It was both "exciting" and exciting today out on my New Qalat City mission observing progress on certain of my assigned projects. Two were recently completed during my first R&R, one was underway, and the other will be starting soon. As with projects back home, whether for the government or private sectors, punch list work remains on the two "completed" projects that may add an additional two or more months of construction for one project in particular.

"Excitement" outside the wire may be derived from many similar or altogether different sources. Today's was based on real and perceived reports of nearby conditions requiring elevated vigilance and professionalism. As I have said so very many times in the past within the medium of this blog, the PRT Zabul SECFOR (US Army Nation Guard out of Massachusetts) assigned to FOB Smart demonstrated their familiar professionalism and precision that allows any "excitement" to be as routine as can be in an unroutine environment. Safety is paramount to these warriors and I sincerely owe them a debt of gratitude.

Tomorrow holds several meetings with local contractors regarding their projects, payments for the completed work, and the normal construction management follow-up associated with projects of their nature. Sundays are always fun days for us at FOB Smart - well, except for Sunday, 28 August 2011 at 1614 - of course.

Kaesen was bright and cheery earlier this evening when I called him. he was just waking up on his Saturday morning there in Washington. He is excited to be going to his neighbor's house to play and spend the night there tonight. I miss him so much.

Tomorrow is another day.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

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.