Paris In Afghanistan

Okay the second 24 hours has brought the household to the “stir crazy” boil.  We relieved a little stress walking approximately 1 mile to the Safeway to buy a few essentials.  The only casualty was our good humor as Dad tried to get everyone in a readiness posture to deal with out of control cars.  Note none were, although a few were driving a little faster than they needed to. 

I broke down after lunch and started shoveling a path for the car on our street.  We were completely untraveled and unplowed.  The connecting street had been traveled enough to allow our Jeep to pass, but it would be dicey for .1 miles until we go to the land of the snow blower (a part of the connecting street with an obliging neighbor willing to plow the street).  After that it is relatively easy.  I managed to make the path.  It was very tiring and at times somewhat depressing as I realized how much I had bitten off.  Finally I broke through and immediately set out on an adventure.  I will sleep well tonight - perhaps through the Uber Bowl. 

I made it to my parents house.  They live on a cul-de-sac off a back road off a back road.  They were plowed and their driveway was clear - I mean clear.  This is where neighborliness is alive and well.  Apparently one neighbor used his plow to shovel the street and another neighbor employed his new snow blower to finish off their steep and usually impassable driveway.  I think I will go back there to use my parents’ large screen, cable connected TV for the aforementioned Uber Bowl. 

I made a pass by my favorite town bar and found it sadly closed.  Home again to shower and rest a bit.

Day two almost complete and no casualties.

School is already canceled and waiting on a decision of the Governor to decide if work is required tomorrow.

Parents are still in Florida.

Paris

Washington is facing Snowmargeddon.  Washington doesn’t deal well with snow generally and this was a real doozy.  We have been happily hunkered down watching movies, cooking and finishing up long homework projects.  The snow is quite amazing.  A good 25 inches of white stuff that has erased all signs of the leaves that remain unraked. 

Liz escaped the house yesterday to spend the night at a friends house.  She left the house in the Mini Cooper.  It will likely be stuck in place for a few days as the snow plows make their way around to our isolated streets.  We checked out our close by main thoroughfare - it is passable by 4WD vehicles, but little else.  Our street and connecting ones are well over the axles and thus we remain in situ.

The grandparents took a much needed and much anticipated trip to the Bahamas.  They were due to return today, but will instead extend their vacation in Orlando, Florida.  I know they feel the need to return to home base, but, as my mother said, “we’re retired.”  And so they are and so they can enjoy an impromptu trip to the land of disney (or is it the world of disney).  Anyway - to mom and dad - enjoy.

My daughter turns 18 today.  She celebrated it at her friend’s house without us.  We called several times with updates and reminices of many years ago.  She is happy and contented - that is all that matters in the end.  A quick shout out to her.

Her birthday portends my 19th anniversary.  Yes it has been that long.  Many more happy years for us as well.  Hopefully we will survive being locked up for the weekend.

Peace to all and no more snow (at least no more is forecast until Tuesday!).

Paris

Yesterday it snowed a bit more than usual.  It canceled all events except the traditional cubscout pancake breakfast at church.  I purposefully slept in to recharge my batteries.  Jack was motivated to help out with cooking and serving the pancakes.  They were every bit as good as I remember growing up (and I didn’t have to cook them). 

While Jack was working Liz and I bought groceries and planned a few homecooked meals (including tonight’s home made chili - completely random recipe).  Liz also reached back and time to one of her favorite meals as a young child - Alphabets - alphabet shaped pasta.  Jack and I had quesidillas (sp) with homemade salsa.  Dad added a couple of jalapeno bits to spice it up.  It didn’t look store bought, but it tasted just as good (better because of TLC imparted).

To capitalize on the snow, Liz and I, with some technical help from Jack, built a snow replica of Lord Sarunam’s Isengard Tower.  It is impressive (over 6 feet tall) and historically accurate (not really). 

School seems to still be on, but there are children praying for a different outcome.

Paris - out.

Well I dreamed I had drafted one.  It is now more than a year since I left the ’stan.  What can I say - things there are not better (which is not necessarily to say worse) than when I left.  What has changed is a new president, a new commander and a different look at “my” war.  I don’t presume to suggest that 1) I had anything to add to the war or 2) that I have anything over any of the many tens of thousands of solidiers, airmen, marines and sailors who have served there - rather it is to suggest that the war in Afghanistan, like that in Iraq has defined a generation of servicepeople who know next to nothing of Vietnam - as a military conflict and its effect on our society. 

My war is a war that is so far beyond that end of the cold war as to suggest that it is uninfluenced by it - although it is.  Our conduct of the war and the deference we pay to our allies and nations of influence in and out of the area is vastly different than the conduct of the war in Vietnam - not to diminish the many similarities.  

On a more personal level I have grown and shrunk as a result of my experiences there.  I have gained many new friends that I would not have had had I not gone there.  I have also created a vast new set of complications in my personal life (big and small) that challenge me still (both positively and negatively). 

All told this year is a year of positives - safe return from war, promotion, command, new job, a renewed family dynamic, new friends, a different outlook on life and a sense of what if?

Happy New Year - Merry Christmas to all - It’s all good . . .

Paris

Before I forget . . . do you know what happens if you wish and dry your cell phone . . . just in case it isn’t obvious - I do.  After an afternoon shoveling, building snow forts and sleeping on the couch I decided to wash my trousers.  Later when those same trousers were in the dryer they made an awful racket.  To squelch the same noise I searched for a stray shoe, rock, anything except - my cell phone.  Strange thing is that it still works (except for the screens - they are a bit foggy and unreadable.  Here’s hoping I can find an old phone to replace it with.

Tonight I suffered a great blow to my manly direction finding capability.  I traveled in the dark to a party for my daughter’s crew team in the deep dark woods of Arnold, Maryland.  I offered to drive another parent home.  I ended up passing the same restaurant at least two if not three times.  My passenger was very polite and even convivial about it.  My credentials have been pulled though.  It is amazing how turned around you can get in four square miles. 

For those of you who have watched the news you know that snow really does fall in Maryland.  We received our thrice yearly dousing of the stuff.  The schools are shut down and the bad drivers are driving worse.  After spending all of Saturday watching the snow fall, I spent a good part of Sunday trying to get it out of the way.  In remembrance of the blizzard of ‘78 in Rhode Island, I helped Jack construct a snow fort.  For those anywhere near Ft. Jackson on Aquidneck Island in 1978 will remember Ft. Greg.  Ft. Greg was constructed in our back yard and served as a staging point for a few snowball battles.  I took some ribbing about the fort as I was in 7th Grade.  Fort Jack is serving up as much pride and adventure for my young son.

I had meant to write a more in depth reflection of what year back in civilization.  Unfortunately time, duty and trepidation have rendered me a bit mute. 

Now as we enter into the last few days before Christmas I can say that I have grown much closer to my family, renewed a few friendships, made some new ones and have found a new place for myself on this earth.  This has been a quieter Christmas season because of the economy and our busy schedules.  Still I think it has been one of the most peaceful.

Here’s hoping all of you have a beautiful Christmas and a blessed and happy New Year!

Paris.