AF Day 253

FOB Smart at 2000 - Sunday

As mentioned in last night's blog post, the snow began here at FOB Smart around 1100 yesterday morning before lunch and has been snowing nonstop since. We have accumulated over 12" of snow at this point, and despite the brief near-stop around 1500 today, it looks as though this depth with continue to increase. Snow has not covered this region, like this, for more than four years and has already been called a 10-year snowstorm. Whatever the records or accumulation, it was not anticipated and surely changes my mind about the winter here in Afghanistan. Some of us actually hope it will continue for a few more days - but anything after that and misery will begin to set in, at least for me it will.

Our neighbors outside the wire will not share the same enthusiasm as we do for the weather. With nothing more than wood fires inside of their mostly qalat (mud house) construction, I can only imagine the cold saps them and affects their lives more dramatically than my own. With as much snow as we have had, the subsistence farmers of this area will no doubt be hit hard and their livestock too. I wish I had a million pairs of surplus military boots and a trillion yards of fabric for them to make warm clothes - if I did, I would certainly give such to the needy. These are, however, a fiercely strong people with incredible ingenuity, so maybe the cold and the snow is nothing more than a nuisance to them as well.

I would normally say that tomorrow would be another day of construction here on the FOB, but the weather and snow will definitely preclude anything more than huddling in our rooms to stay warm. I am grateful for another week to start, as this places me one more week closer to home. I have plenty of paperwork to work through, so boring it should not be and enthralling it may be - if we are lucky.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 252

FOB Smart at 1900 - Saturday

If I were home right now I'd either be spending time with my son or wishing I were spending time with my son - likely the former rather than the latter. Since I am not home, I can say that I am about to start a movie (big surprise there), hang out a little bit, speak with Kaesen over the phone or Skype, and call it a night thereafter.

Today it started snowing here at FOB Smart before lunch and it has not stopped since. It is supposed to snow all night and day again tomorrow. It is white nearly everywhere here now. This is nothing like Devils Lake, North Dakota, where my home district with the US Army Corps of Engineers, but it sure is cold and beautiful out. We tried working in the yard relocating materials for two of my construction projects three times today - but the cold and snow got the better of us! We'll give it another shot tomorrow.

What more can I say? All is well and I am content in my thoughts.

Here are two of my recent Facebook posts worth reposting on my blog.

Follow me when you walk through life, your footsteps are my own. Listen to my heart beating through your own heartbeat and be calmed by such a magnificent peace within. Find me when you close your eyes and see me when you open your own. Hear for me when the rain falls and the thunder claps my presence. Fear nothing in life as I am with you always. Know everything in life that is good and loving through my love for you. Feel me when you stroke your hair, when you rest your hands on your chest, when you hold your face in your hands, and when you interlock your fingers – I am with you always. Laugh with me inside and keep my smile alive when you smile. Call my name when your own name is spoken and know that everything you are – I am too… and I am with you always, my dear son.

Every time I close my eyes I see your face again. I think about those days so very long ago and wonder where all the time went and when. It seems like only yesterday we met and I smiled when you said hello. I thought all those years ago that this smile could never leave - and it hasn't even now, you know? Right now I feel alone and empty in this space. I feel alone and it makes me yearn for days again of grace. I guess these tears are warm for a reason though. They ensure that when they’re gone their streaks will stay behind. The streaks of these tears remind me that I am alive for the best of everything we had in mind. It is not the end of the road for me, rather just another new start. It is not the last of the best of me, rather just another chance to reinvent my heart. These warm tears now fill my eyes beyond measure; these cheeks are stained and trembling. But I’ll be damned if I can’t keep this grin on my face from exploding because I know everything is good and never-ending.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

KT is playing the role of both superhero and Nerf gunslinger!
Taken on 20 Jan 2012

 

KT is bright, I mean bright, and he loves wearing sunglasses, even if they are 3D glasses.
Taken on 20 Jan 2012





AF Day 251

FOB Smart at 1800 - Friday

Friday again and the day began and ended with a peaceful quiet across our forward operating base. Nothing too spectacular occurred today, at least not here for us at FOB Smart or across Qalat, and we are all appreciative for another day closer to home.

Our current team here at the PRT is nearing their tour completion and another team back home is preparing to ship over (fly over) for the big turnover. As with the last team here at PRT Zabul, and especially at FOB Smart, I will watch with a glad heart to see my brothers and sisters depart and on their way back to their lives wherever they go. I will also embrace my new "PRT family" and support them in their endeavors to ensure their safety and success in their mission. Soon my time here will conclude as well and it will be my chance to go home and regain my life away from Afghanistan. I will remember this experience, the people here, the places we have visited, and the opportunity I have been given, and made for myself, here for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow is another day. I look forward to it as much as I did today and all of the 250 days before. Saturdays pick up quite a bit and I have construction projects to observe here and there. So it should be exciting and hopefully not at all "exciting!"

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 250

FOB Smart at 1830 - Thursday

My day began plainly enough, continued with nothing significant occurring or too interesting to speak of other than a single mission outside the wire, which went well. We moved more materials on the FOB this morning. Tonight was "Mongolian Night" at the DFAC, so while I ate light I did eat well!

All is well for me here in Qalat. All could be much better back home, but I cannot have everything right in my life, every moment of my life, which is something I learned a very long time ago. I do have my belief that within me is the capacity for greatness, the capability for change and growth, and the determination to succeed. I suppose then the true statement would be, "all is well for me in my life!"

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 074

Photographs from around the FOB in the last two days... Shams Rahman, Shams' laborers posing after work, John Morgan rocking the military forklift like a professional, Jonathan Ball observing us observing work in progress here and there, and of course - the obligatory suntanned me photo!

AF Day 249

FOB Smart at 2200 - Wednesday

Hump Day is nearly over with and we survived another day here in southern Afghanistan. Survived is a little harsh; we rocked this day here on the FOB and enjoyed a whole lot of sunshine! Well, I enjoyed a lot of sunshine anyway. The days keep getting brighter and brighter for me and even in the calmest days of this deployment, I find joy in everything I do. I guess that is what we should always strive for in our lives - joy.

My day was more of the blissful same, which included another 8+ hours out in the sun as noted above. Among other things today, I operated a forklift, spotted for John Morgan while he operated the forklift, had a couple of meetings, conversed with contractors, and spoke with my son earlier. It is not always glamorous, but it is definitely memorable.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 248

FOB Smart at 2000 - Tuesday

We worked in the yard again today - all day - and enjoyed more of the same. As with last night though, I am very tired and feel happy for it to boot. The sun was just as intense on my face this morning and afternoon, as well as the wind and cold air. It feels every bit like winter and the temperatures here never seem to climb very high, although strenuous activity does work wonders when you're cold. More of the same is planned for tomorrow. What more could I ask for than to be busy?

All is well in our little version of a winter wonderland here in Qalat. Be well.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 073

Photographs often provide a glimpse into the world around us and these are no different. The places and faces I see when I travel or where am I am deployed move me. The photographs below were taken on 16 - 17 January 2012.

AF Day 247

FOB Smart at 1900 - Monday

Tired describes me at this point. We worked in our yard all day today moving and reorganizing. I am a little red in the face, too much sun, and a lot sore in the muscles, pitching in with manual labor is a good thing. Nothing incredible occurred today, but we accomplished much. I really do enjoy working outside at times and today was one of those opportunities to gather a larger group of us and our Afghan partners and get it done!

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 072

Even more of the random photographs taken in or around Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, that I enjoy sharing. I love the beauty found everywhere I walk each day. Sometimes it can be found in the generality of life, the mundane of the day, the eye-popping colors in an opposing background, the beautiful faces or places we encounter, or just in the fun of working here in Afghanistan. These below were all taken on 15 January 2012.

AF Day 246

FOB Smart at 1830 - Sunday

It snowed for a few minutes earlier, mostly flurries again, but the clouds blew out today and the temperatures dropped steadily all day long. Last night the rains began again and by 0200 this morning the thunder was loud enough to wake the entirety of the FOB. So much so that we all thought another IED had been detonated. Thankfully, however, it was merely the skies unrelentingly pouring open upon the Qalat valley. The ground was rain-soaked all day, which made, and it still is, for very muddy conditions.

I am looking forward to another wonderful week ahead.

143, Kaesen.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 071

Below are more of the random photographs taken in or around Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan, that I enjoy sharing. I love the beauty found everywhere I walk each day. Sometimes it can be found in the generality of life, the mundane of the day, the eye-popping colors in an opposing background, the beautiful faces or places we encounter, or just in the fun of working here in Afghanistan.



Here is me smiling at you! Taken on 14 Jan 2012