Sunday, 25th o May 2003
I am set to come off of active duty soon, and we are being demobilized. After three months of training and getting ready, it turns out the infantry just works too fast and they didn't need us in the end. Sigh. It's good news, but after all the agony and trying times living through such a tumultuous year, I was ready to embrace some form of certainty, some singular purpose, surrounded by the brave men and women of the 597th QM CO, for whom I have enormous respect. I was not to be and now we go back to our civilian lives.
I can say, however, that we did our duty. We answered the call and served with pride. Now we go back to being citizens again. My hat is off to all those over there still in the fray. I pray they come home safe to their families.
Tuesday, 25th o March 2003
For all our dear family and friends concerned about Jim's wellbeing, I, Laura, have taken the initiative to keep you informed of the latest. Jim is at present on a base in the southern part of the Island in an area tecnically considered a desert. Though it is rough not being able to see him, I consider myself lucky to still be able to communicate with my dear husband on a daily basis.
Today, both Olaia and Jaimito were able to talk to Daddy. Olaia was her eloquent self and ended her conversation by singing the refrain to Paul Simon's Father and Daughter song. Jim purchased the CD right before leaving and Olaia is very clear that it has "her song from Daddy". Jaimito has his song too, mind you, Will Smith's Just the Two of Us", Jaimito can't quite sing yet but he bobs his head and ahhs merrily to any music.
Back to Jim, he is very proud of his unit's performance and morale. It is not a sure bet that we will see him before they leave for their final destination, but for now, he is training not too far from home and is safe.
By the way, Jaimito is about to turn 1 on Easter Sunday, April 20th... he will be looking very much like the picture of Jim on the top left corner. We did the chocolate cake ritual before Jim left and Jaimito was such a ham that he took his first steps ever that day with Daddy - he has not really wanted to be so brave since. No pressure here, I know he can do it and is probably just waiting for the next big show date.
Saturday, 15th o March 2003
I entered active duty in the Army today. My unit, the 597th QM CO, has been activated for a 365 day tour. We are set to move out to destinations unknown in the very near future. I am filled with a sense of duty for my soldiers, in that I am charged for a year with their safety and welfare. At the same time, it's hard to be leaving Laura, Olaia and Jaimito. I'll miss a whole year of Jaimito's life (he's 11 months now). When I come back, he'll be talking as a little toddler. Olaia, will already be an old hat at that school thing. I'll miss her first day. Sigh. Laura's gonna have a hard time holding the company, the kids, and missing me. My heart goes out to her.
I am however poised to lograr (achieve) as a company commander in time of war. There can be no greater career challenge than that. This is make it/break it time. I am still not sure if I want a military career or not, but this will certainly help.
I still pray for peace, but if there's a war, I'm set to do what must be done.
Sunday, 9th o March 2003
War, what's it really good for?
I've become increasingly distressed and appalled by the world climate, both for what this administration is trying to do and what everyone else is doing about it (nothing).
I saw a headline yesterday that read: "US Steps Up Diplomacy Efforts for War with Iraq." Does anyone but me see the horrific oxymoron there? Using diplomacy as a tool to consecrate war? Huh? Let's try an exercise shall we? Every time you see the word WAR replace it with FIRE. And every time you see the word SOLDIER or ARMY replace it with FIREFIGHTER. If you do that, you will not be tricked into seeing something that ain't there. Let's use diplomacy to try to convince the world that it's time to start a fire. Now that doesn't make sense does it?
A fire is something you don't want. A fire is a failure, whether it be electrical wiring, a space heater, an accident, or arson. In any of these cases, it's obvious. You send in the firefighters to put it out. There's the blaze, let's put it out. We have to save what people we can, get them out, maybe lose some of our own lives in the process, but in the end we put the fire out and go back to the fire station.
If you see smoke, there's probably a fire. You send in the firefighters. They put it out. Anything short of that you DO NOT send in firefighters. Let me repeat.
Firefighters fight fires.
Why do I need to say it again? Well, there's this guy that thinks that firefighters must also fix electrical wiring, stop arsonists, make sure space heaters aren't next to the drapes, and that people don't let kids play with matches.
Inspectors inspect wiring to prevent fires. Police arrest arsonists. Manufacturers and good education help people prevent accidental fires from heaters. Parents watch their kids to make sure they don't play with matches.
Soldiers fight wars.
Soldiers are not police. Soldiers are not parents. Soldiers are not inspectors. Soldiers are not babysitters. We only fight wars when there is one, when diplomacy has FAILED, when an accident has happened, or when an crazy man has done something horrible.
WE GO PUT IT OUT! Then we go home. We leave the job then to the UN (Police), Inspection Teams, International Aid organizations, and other specific international bodies.
Bosnia? We went in, we kicked ass (put out the fire), and then stood down. We now have troops as part of the UN peacekeeping force, but let me be clear. They are not fighting fires. They are firefighters working for the city government trying to see that no more fires break out in this fire torn area. Our soldiers are working for an international body and are NOT fighting a war. The US firefighting team is not there. The UN Police force IS there though, of which we are a member.
Is that clear?
So, let's summarize. We can't go into Iraq, until one of the following happens:
- There is a fire. Saddam does something stupid.
- There is smoke. Saddam does something stupid.
If there is imminent danger, kid playing with matches, passing them around, a space heater is dangerously close to a drape, a guy buys some gasoline and matches, or we notice that the electrical system is not up to code, then we send in inspectors, police, observers, and a construction crew to make repairs.
We CANNOT do those jobs, no more than a firefighter can wrestle an assailant to the ground, babysit the kids, and be the handyman that puts your house up to code.
Our soldiers stand ready to move at a moment's notice. We pledge to put out fires whenever the fire house bell rings. We will put out a fire if one erupts. We will put it out quickly, with as little loss of life as possible, and we will do our jobs. But, we DO NOT like to stand idly by while our fire captain runs out of firehouse with a can of gasoline and a match calling to us as he scrambles out, "Hey guys, I'll have some work for you in a minute."
Tuesday, 7th o January 2003
Watching Spiderman with Olaia
"Daddy, can we watch the Spiderman DVD?"
"Sure, little girl. Let's watch Spiderman." I get up and pop the DVD into the player and press play.
"Daddy, why is Peter Parker running after the bus?"
"Because he is late for school and he missed his bus. So he is chasing it to try to catch it."
"Oh"
"Daddy, is that man bad?" pointing at the Norman Osbourne character pre Green Goblin.
"Well, no, not exactly. He has a company like your mommy and daddy, and he is having problems. He decided to try to test his special strength formula on himself. It didn't work right and now he is a bad guy."
"Oh, how come he's talking to himself?"
"He has a split personality. He has the Green Goblin inside himself and it is making him be bad. He is crazy."
"He's not really a bad guy?"
"Not really. He's sick and needs to see a doctor."
"Oh," she said, satisfied that she had exhausted the topic and quickly moved onto another. "Daddy, why did that spider bite Peter Parker?"
"He was hungry. That's what gave Peter Parker his powers. The spider was a special spider. It's just make believe, Olaia, but in the movie that little spider has special powers and gives special spider powers to Peter Parker."
"Cool," Olaia said, eyes opening wide.
"Daddy, Peter Parker is climbing up the wall. That's neat. I wish I was Spiderman."
Chuckle.
"And Daddy, he can jump really really high and shoot those things out of his hands."
"Webs, Olaia," I say.
"Webs, yeah. And swing. He swinged into the sign, didn't he, Daddy.
"Yeah, hehe."
"Daddy, you can make popcorn now."
Hehe, don't you just love that little girl. It's like having my very own PowerPuff Girl. And it went on and on and on. She loves Spiderman... a girl after my own heart.