Is it still only January?

Happy January 16th!

Wow, time does seem to go slowly over here. It is hard to believe it is still January - except for the fact that it is colder here than it is back home - oh yeah and the snow. First time it snowed in Baghdad in 70 years. It didn't accumulate at all - but still, the white stuff came down on us. And as far as I know, nobody ate any yellow snow. Although, some people were caught running around like little kids - catching snow in their mouths. Although we did have one guy slip and fall on some blue "porta-pottie" ice.

I know Amy is happy to hear that I have almost run out of places to visit in the International Zone. No it does not mean that I will be visiting places in the 'Red Zone'. Just that I will likely not be doing much exploring around here - just 2 or three places I haven't been. Then I will have nothing to do but watch movies and read in my spare time. I guess that is not such a bad thing. Just boring. Although we do have some range time coming up - always good for a little fun.

To help pass the time, we have the occasional 'VIP' come by and visit for some reason or another. They tend to want to visit the ER and see how things happen there. Depending on how you view things - sometimes a positive/sometimes a negative. Entertaining when we get a sick patient in while a 3 star general and his entourage are clogging the entrance in the ER and a lowly Captain can yell at them to leave - I was pretty surprised when it worked, too.

The overall flow of casualties has continued to drop off from what we had when we first got here (with occasional spikes)- thankfully. Although we still have job security. A lot of people back home have been asking if we had received casualties from a few days ago when we lost 9 soldiers, but unfortunately we did not as most did not survive the initial blast. It was a blow for us to get the news of their loss, as even more a tragedy for their friends and family here and back home. Another horrible reminder of what we are here to do and the horrible price people are paying for us to be here.

If you area religious person - I can only ask that you pray for those they left behind, and offer thanks for what you have.

Sorry for such a downcast email, just one of those days.

Most of you know I am not really a sentimental type person, but one of patients gave me a copy of this poem and I thought I should send it out - a little out of season - but not to bad...

A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Take care.

cohen