Entry # 71: September 16, 2006

Camp Slayer, Baghdad, Iraq

In my last writing I referred to Baghdad as the Stagnant City. The more I reflect on that term, the more accurate I believe it is. Think about it for a moment. A small body of water, standing still, nothing new flowing in, nothing old flowing out. It remains the same. A stagnant body of water also does one more thing. It breeds mosquitoes. Small, annoying insects that, individually, is easy to squash. However, a swarm of mosquitoes is a big problem. Welcome to the Stagnant City.

Today is the 16th of September. The reason I bring up this seemingly insignificant date is this: it’s my beloved Grandmother O’Quinn’s birthday. She would be 95. She passed away a while back, but what a great lady. I remember shelling butter peas with her in my grandparent’s living room on Sussex Dr. in Macon watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She kept strawberry poptarts (with frosting) in the breakfast cabinet just for me and Matthew, and later, Joseph. To this day, strawberry poptarts are still my favorite. Pecan pie was always better coming out of her oven. And people say taste is tied to your nose. I think memories have a lot more to do with it.

Six weeks to go and my replacements are set. They will be here in early to mid October. As much as I love doing my job, I love being in a normal place even more. I love seeing the grape vineyards in the springtime, walking on grass with my bare feet, and tasting real beer. Not to mention wearing real clothes, being able to go to my own bathroom in my boxers, and make a real meal with food I bought and of my choosing (it would be a 16 oz New York Strip with grilled asparagus, caramelized bell peppers, mashed potatoes, and a Cote du Rhone from the year I was born). Life will begin anew. And so the Soldier’s life continues…