Dandy in Afghanistan

Hi Gang,

 So here’s the scoop.  I’ve been up for 23 hours with 4 more to go and I’m on the verge of slumber so instead of playing “head bob” in my boss’s office, I’m going to write you fine folks.  I start day shift tomorrow.  One of my co-workers had to head back early due to child care issues so we had to shift people around to fill in the gaps.  You would think with two cups of coffee, chocolate pudding, grape tootsie pop and watching “Sea Biscuit” in addition to listening to the Cheetah Girls’ song “Cheetah-Licious Christmas” from my IPOD I would be set, but I’m not.  If I were to lay my head down on the desk, I would be out in seconds flat.  So let’s get on with it!

I told you what I like here and that was very positive of me wasn’t it?  But now it’s my turn to wine a bit.  I don’t like packing all of my toiletries all the way down the hall to the shower room.  I’m clumsy and I often drop shaving cream cans and hair brushes and then cuss under my breath.  You’re probably thinking “why don’t you just get a shower caddy?”  Yeah well, that would be too easy wouldn’t it?  I don’t like packing my weapon around everywhere.  I think it’s really just for show, but it’s not my decision to make so press on little airman.  I don’t like watching children roll through the doors of our trauma bay with injuries of war.  It’s not cool.  I especially don’t like being in the middle of a trauma and not being able to anticipate the medical supply needs of the physicians before they ask for it.  I just hate it when I’m in an IV starting rut.  It’s enough to give you a case of the “Montana Red Ass” when you miss three or four times in a row.  I’m so dag gone tired of walking in the dirt and on the rocks!  I don’t like the BX.  It’s so small and crowded all of the time.  You would think the merchandise was free with all of the people there.  I’m not particularly fond of the location nationals’ body odor.  I desperately want to give them a bar of soap and some pit stick. 

 I’m not looking forward to saying “so long” to all of my co-workers.  We’ve been through so much together and have grown as a team.  Experiences like this bond you for life.  Lastly, I hate it when U.S. service members come in severely injured with missing limbs and wounds because I know their lives will never be the same.  If you want to pray for them, pray for a speedy recovery, but also pray for them to develop the coping skills for dealing with their life altering changes.  I’m sure there are plenty more annoyances I could think of, but I am rest assured that you get my point.

 You may now return to the rat race!

 Dandy 44.4 miles to go Aaron