Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really...On The Road Again
Posted by Erik Rupard on March 11th, 2008
I am now on a bus (Toyota Pajero, which we see a lot of here), and headed back to Base XX (remember that one?), where I will catch a flight to my destination. As I sit here in the dark, I am thinking back on these few days in Kuwait. They have been memorable, and generally (dare I say it?) fun. The people I have bunked with, eaten with, and generally hung out with since CRC have been a big part of what has made this portion of my trip enjoyable. This is how it has always been for me in the Army—whenever I have had to stay in a tent, or in a dirty bungalow somewhere, my companions have been funny, intelligent and remarkably selfless people, and I have come to believe that the Nursing, Medical, and Mental Health Corps of the Army are made up of this kind of people. It makes some sense—we are in the Army, each of us, either because we couldn’t afford medical school (i.e., no filthy rich parents) or out of patriotism and a desire to serve, or both. Regardless, the seven of us got along swimmingly.
On one occasion, we hiked all the way across post in stifling heat to go the the better mess hall for lunch, only to remember once we got there that COL Neville, the sole female amongst us, was still back in her tent. In our haste, we had forgotten to pick her up. Without hesitating, COL Vigersky turned around to make the hike back and back again to get her, and asked us to save them a spot at our table. A typical example of what happens when you start to see each other less as colleagues and more as teammates. I don’t always naturally incline in that direction—I’m happy, as my wife will attest, to sit in a chair off in a corner somewhere reading the Wall Street Journal. But when am pushed off of that comfort plateau, I find that I am opened up to new and valuable experiences.
So on to the events of the day.
We did not have training until 0750 today, which was beautiful. Up at 0700 after an excellent night’s sleep (7 hours), and we made it to mess and off to class. The training this AM was on semi-classified material so I will not mention specifics here, but it was interesting, informative, and potentially lifesaving. The first briefing was given by a witty British chap, who was full of self-effacing jokes about his country’s relatively small force. On one slide, he pointed out the numbers of troops that each country had supplied, all the way down to Slovenia, who have 4 soldiers in Iraq. “But before you get down on Slovenia,” he said, “remember: that’s 4 more soldiers than France sent here.”
He then deadpanned the following, without giving himself away a bit: “Actually, back home we had a French soldier serving in a multinational unit with a Brit and a Jamaican. It turns out that all three of them got their wives pregnant at the same time, and the three wives delivered on the same day. There was a bit of a mixup at the hospital, and the babies lost their nametags, so when they brought the fathers in to pick out their kids, the British soldier saw a beautiful brown-skinned baby and said ‘I’ll take this one.’ The Jamaican soldier pointed out that that baby was pretty obviously his, and the British soldier replied ‘Yes, but if I pick one of the other ones, I’ll have a 50% chance of getting the French one. No thanks!’” The big crowd of Yanks, Brits, and Aussies roared in laughter for a good 5 minutes.
The rest of the day was spent getting ready for our flights out tomorrow, though we did not get the final info on that until dinnertime. My flight would be some time overnight (again, purposely not giving specifics here), so I had to get my stuff together pretty quickly. COL Vigersky is travelling with me, the rest are leaving a bit later. It was sad saying goodbye to the others, but good to be moving, however slowly, toward my assigned unit.
We are arriving at Base XX now, going over a truly amazing number of speedbumps as we approach the entrance gate.
———-
In now, and got my flight info, will be out in the morning. Called the fam, but poor lines made the call pretty unsatisfactory. Instant messaging to the rescue!
I am getting a bit tired of being a transient, but just one more night to go and I’ll be at my actual duty station. Gonna sign off now, but I will have a new adventure to write about tomorrow.
P.S. My internet access is very sporadic right now, due to my transient situation. If you have left a comment or sent me an e-mail and have not gotten a response, please do not think I am being rude, or that I don’t like you. When I get on a computer here, there is always a line of people behind me, waiting, so I can never get done everything I’d like to. I believe that will improve when I have a room of my own. (Can’t wait…)
March 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hey, Uncle E,
We are looking into getting Skype so we could at somepoint have a videochat with you. ( I was able to find a $30 LogiTech webcam) There is only one thing I dont get-would we have to repalce our landline and use Skype instead? or could we just get some kind of videochat service? Oh, i plann on sending you a song or 2- “house of orion” by Lukestar and “For Science Fiction” by Maritime! so when you get a chance check your email!
I love you, and i hope you stay safe!
March 11th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Whoops! Thats ” In a Hologram” by Lukestar not “House of Orion”!
March 11th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Erik, I’m thoroughly enjoying your experience vicariously,although I’d prefer you weren’t there at all. So glad to hear that the company is interesting, supportive and that there are moments of comedic relief, a necessary element in your situation. Your description of “nothing living” in the desert area made me laugh out loud,and if not a physician, you would have made a wonderful journalist. Take care of yourself.
Sherri
March 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Dr. Rupard! I’m very much enjoying your blog here. I’m excited to read what exactly an Hematological Oncologist will be doing in Iraq, and how your experience will be alike or different from other physicians from other background specialties. I am a prospective med-student who may be attending USUHS this fall and am going through some of the same questions that you addressed in you David Copperfield/Holden Caulfield get to know me first post. I was intrigued by you AHLTA comments, and it makes me wonder how prevalent that sort of thing will be in military medicine. Thanks for the great blog, and keep it coming. Take care over there.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Erik: Your Mom shared your URL, I am touched by your humor, your heart and your eclectic vision. Although we have not seen one another for many years (I think 1968), I have followed your progress. Our interaction over our Uncle’s illness was much appreciated. Wanted you to know that I think about you, your family and your mission daily. Godspeed!
March 12th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Dear Erik,
You sound good. I am glad you are getting some sleep. I am enjoying hearing from you, because that means you are still here, somewhere, and loosens the knots in my stomach. Juliet was thrilled to hear that you had seen a two hump camel,and wants to know did you pet it. I told her camels are crabby, like mom, and are just as likely to spit on you as rip your shoulder off, so you have to go around all lopsided in the desert like Frank McCourt was told by the doctor in Angela’s Ashes, when he tried to join the white priests of the Bedoin in the Sahara. No luck there. we have had some interesting developments with Elliot spitzer and prostitutes, as I am sure you have heard. We need a scandal now and then to keep us awake around here. As you can imagine, everyone is pretty dissolusioned by this, as he was known as a sraight shooter and a family man. It is nice to vicariously hear from Uncle charlie. he was always a favorite of mine. I hope you hear from more people than ever, to keep your spirits up. People don’t expect an answer, just want you to know that they are thinking of you.
the 2 mormons are doing well in American Idol. I really think Brooke White is the one to beat here. she has a sweet innocence about her, and is a truly gifted musician. On that note, simon and Paula fight more than ever, and I am convinced that Paula is sipping gin out of that coke cup. that is why they are opaque. she is a nut case. Enough of that mundane stupidity that makes up our poor pathetic lives. Love and miss you. Mit
March 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
We need to send you some of the Fat Partridge Family–um, Spice Family–rock band for your entertainment. Everyone plays instruments around here. Syd rocks out on the drums. You would laugh at how lame we are–except for Adam and Allie. Syd is good but only 7. Sam is really good on the drums…so wait. It is just me that stinks.
Are you still playing any guitar? Adam still plays almost every day.
We do a nice Weezer “Say It Isn’t So” and some Judas Priest.
It is what we do for FHE
Lisa
March 12th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hey Uncle Erik!
It is really good to hear that you are doing well. 0750 sounds early, Molly knows how you feel a little bit, seminary is…well, let’s just say it’s one of a kind. On Wednesday, they have something called ‘Leadership Wednesday’ and that is when a leader from the church (i.e., Young Womens President, Bishop…etc). Anyway, the MISSIONARIES taught todays lesson which was really funny.
We are all doing great up here in Mass. Sam is pitching with his pitching coach, throwing at an amazing 82 miles per hour. Barry is starting to get into computers, as you know. Ellen has lost 54 pounds (and still losing); she also has a friend who just published his first book and she is planning a book signing/lecture for him. She has invited the top 5 American historians to attend. The planning sure does take up a lot of her time. Molly is very excited because she is going to the Jonas Brothers concert on March 20 (her favorite band, you may have heard of them), she was also on the front page of the Boston Globe recently on an artical about Mitt Romney, and she has started guitar lessons. We all hear the guitar around the house so she must really be enjoy them. We are building a new house in Shrewsbury with Blair (again)!!!!
We LOVE to check in on your blog everyday and see how you are doing.
Next year, Molly will be taking Honors Bio…her first step to her dream profession of medicine.
We hope you continue to remain safe.
Love,
Barry, Ellen, Molly, and Sam