Finally Some Time to Rest

Well, Happy Mothers' Day to all you mothers.  I finally have some time to just sit and think and write a little bit.  I also have taken a few pictures that I hope to be able to upload and show with everyone.  I have had a few long days in the last couple of weeks and am glad to be back with nothing really to do for the next few days.  The trip that we just made, three times, is the longest that we have had to do so far.  It took us 250 miles south of here out into the desert.  At 35 mph that takes a long time.  Not to mention that the military transport trucks that we are escorting have been in Iraq for a long time and break down a lot.  It makes for a long trip.  There were many days that I went more than 24 hours without any sleep only to have six hours of downtime before rolling out again!  For all that though, I had a good time.  I like the simplicity of that life: just driving and eating and sleeping.  Never knowing when you would get to eat your next hot meal or get a few hours to sleep.  Never knowing where you were going to have to stop and how long it would be.  There is no planning for the future and no expectations.  You just let circumstances cary you along.  In a way it is relaxing.  Just to let go and go along for the ride.  

I was able to have a lot of time to think and be with my own thoughts.  I also got to know my crew a little better.  I started reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu.  I don't know much at all about Chinese history, but this book, including the lengthy introduction and historical background written by the translator, have awoken a fascination with classical Chinese history that has surprised me.  I even started to make notes and to practice writing the Chinese characters that represent the main points in the book.  I did all this reading in the driver's seat waiting for our start times or waiting for weather conditions to allow us to drive!  There is always something good to be taken out of almost any situation.

I got to see a lot of the countryside.  It is different than what most people probably think.  Between the rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, it is a lush oasis.  There are fields of crops and trees everywhere and lots of water.  It can be quite beautiful.  The farther away from the rivers that you get the more desert like it is until you get into the deep desert that is just sand and dust.  Even in the desert though there are people.  There are the beduins in their tents with their herds of camels and goats.  There are castle like fortresses built and manned by the Iraqi army as outposts and in the wilderness.  They are base stations for the many patrols and checkpoints that exists even way out there.  And finally there are the oil exploration companies with their fleets of white seismic monitoring trucks.  

Out in the desert the dust can blow like a blizzard.  At one point in one of our trips the visibility was about a tenth of a mile!  The dust is like talcum powder or baby powder and covers everything.  After a while you get an upset stomach because you end up eating so much of it.  

It's so amazing to be in such a different place from what I am used to.  

Well, as I sit here and think I will probably think of more to say.  Until then enjoy this little bit. 

Oh, and thank you Sister Crawford and all the primary for your wonderful package.  The pictures and flags that you made are already hanging up in the lobby or our headquarters building.  Everyone appreciates your support.  I especially liked the video you made!  Thank you so much.