Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really...Family (sort of) Home (away from home) Evening
Posted by Erik Rupard on April 4th, 2008
Gonna be a brief one tonight. It’s late here, and I haven’t spoken with Lorri yet today.
All day today, there has been a brown cloud of dust hanging over Al Asad. The wind has not been fierce enough to cause a massive sandstorm like the one I described a week ago, but it has been consistently 10-20 mph today, good enough to keep things swirling around the dustbowl ad infinitum. I have been inclined today to wonder aloud whether, eventually, all of the dust in Iraq will blow over into Syria (it always seems to blow westward). That would theoretically leave the air here nice and clean, keeping the grit from constantly accumulating on all of my smoother possessions. My medics inform me, however, that when the dust blows out of Al Asad, “they just make more.” When I asked him who “they” are, he just looked heavenward, which makes me think he may be a latent Mormon.
Because of the dust, there were few incoming planes, which meant no mail, no new shipments to the PX, etc. It also meant that practically no “minor” patients (i.e., back pain, bilateral left foot pain, etc) made the trip to our clinic today. When the dust is this bad, it hurts to open one’s eyes and even to breathe, and the visibility is terrible (though you can find other people by going in the direction of the coughing noises), so people pretty much stay indoors. No runners, no bikers. The very few patients I saw today were all pretty sick. These “brown-out” days tend to bring out the underlying (and the obvious) respiratory illnesses in people, and today was no exception.
After work, I got a ride home, leaving my bike at the clinic, and did some housework for awhile, caught up on some reading and writing, and then headed out to dinner with a group of medics. It amazes me how, whenever I get a chance to really talk with someone—anyone—theye always seem to have an interesting story to tell. I would like to relate each of my medic’s stories on this blog and I may just do that if I get their permission. Suffice it to say, that each of the humans with whom I am working is much more complex and interesting than their Army “Enlisted Record Brief” would have you believe.
At 7:30 PM, I went to the Al Asad branch Family Home Evening. The sister who sets this up every Friday is a SGT, and she does a great job. Somehow, she manages to bring popcorn, cookies (all baked goods are a rarity in this place, from bread on up), and even some of the flavors of Gatorade other than the three (red, green, purple) which are served in the DFAC. I have no idea how she gets these other, mystical, magical flavors (blue, orange, yellow), but I am grateful for them. I grabbed a blue one tonight, but I purposely didn’t drink it all. Instead, I saved some of it, so I can extend the pleasure of drinking something different over a couple of days. What a sad, sad life I lead.
FHE was populated by the aforementioned sister, Brother Diaz who is a Marine Master Gunnery SGT (that’s very high-ranking enlisted) who serves as a our group leader, Brother (CDR) Nance who is a chaplain and our stake representative, an Army SGT from Sacramento with a very east coast accent, a LCDR (same rank as me, but in the Navy), and a few civilians. Everyone is very humble and sweet here, and grateful to have each other’s company for a few moments. It’s nice to be in a room in Al Asad with a bunch of people talking for an hour, and never once hear the “Eddie Murphy word” (which during that same time span, my medics would likely have used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, and—of course—an interjection, usually followed by a glance in my direction and an apology). We watched the excellent “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled” DVD about LDS missionary service. If you haven’t seen that, try to find it, even if you are not a military member. It is very inspiring and gives some real insights into LDS military life.
Brother Hales, the civilian with the Orson Pratt beard, gave me a ride home through the brown haze afterward. He has been here a year, and is going home in June. He did not say it, but I could tell that June cannot come too soon for Brother Hales.
I know the feeling.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Hi, Erik,
Keep you chin up. One month is already over, with only 5 to go, we hope. I know it is hard to be away from your family and your familiar space. I dislike being away from home, even to visit a spectacular location. It is always a blessing to come back home. There is something special about home than no other place can equal. I certainly hope that heaven feels that way … like coming home. We all love you so much, and though we have a lot of communication with you, it is not the same as knowing we can pick up the phone and talk with you or leave you a message. You are so much in my heart. Love, Mom
April 4th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Greetings, Doc: With your self-effacing humor, humble demeanor and positive outlook, you would wear well just about anywhere the Army could place you. Besides, think how much your writing skills will improve in five more months. Also, with you attending the gym regularly, when you come home you will be Greek-God-like. As with Richard Nixon of old you will be “tanned and ready.”
I have a thought for you: if you find that you need a fast “pick-me-up, I find that eating Mentos (or anything else containing palm kernal oil, evaporated cane juice and polysorbate 80) always cheers me up. Maybe you will soon have an opportunity to test out my theory. But, if that doesn’t work, there’s always Top Ramen. ‘Bye for now. dad
April 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Like your Mom says…keep your chin up. (Probably should cover your eyes if you do though from the sound of the sand problem.)
Only five months left. You’re doing great!!
And to take from your Dad’s line, you could come back a Schwatzenager with C.S. Lewis-like ability. WOW!! What a combo!
Keep the faith Pres. We’re all greatful for what you are doing.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Now, I know what to send–magical mystery flavors of Gatorade…..baked goods and pledge
April 4th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Can you make Spritz? They are his favorite next to Becky’s chocolate chip cookies which have been hard to come by over the years since she’s in PA about 10 hours north of us.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Uh oh. I think I set off the “depression” radar there. I’m suddenly sensing that those Spritz cookies, Mentos, and Top Ramen may come my way, laced in Zoloft.
Please don’t worry about me from that standpoint–I am actually just fine, and “enjoying” my little hazy cocoon here as much as one can being away from the family. I brought a few movies with me, an entire PBS series on Jefferson and one on Vietnam, and the first seasons of Heroes and 24, and I haven’t watched a single episode of any of them yet, because I’ve kept myself busy doing other things (reading, writing, hanging out with my clinic and church “families” and exercising). So don’t cry for me, Argentina.
Sometimes, I just feel the need to not be so incessantly upbeat that people begin to think I am enjoying it here more than home. I mean, just because they do all of my laundry for me and send it back folded and pressed, and just because my job here is essentially 8 to 4 (instead of 7 to 6) and just because there is free food 24 hours a day and I have time to read and write and ride my bicycle around for hours a day, with no church calling, no kids’ homework to help with, no toilets to plunge, and no dying cancer patients to worry about—just because of all of these things, it doesn’t mean I like it here.
And for gosh sake, Lisa, don’t waste postage on sending me Gatorade. (Though I appreciate the thought.)
Love you guys and I appreciate your concern. Maybe direct some of that towards my “single-mother” wife, who has it a lot rougher than me right now, in just about every way…
April 5th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Hey Erik!
JD and Big T (not Soprano) sittin’ here in da ‘Stuhl chillin with coffee in hand, checkin’ out your posts. Sounds like things are going well there and we’re glad your doing well. Tony was wondering where you get your PET-CT scans at. Perhaps the Green Zone. What round would you pick Brett Favre in next years draft? By the way, if we happen to get the pool togehter, again, do I (JD) take Moss or Grant (yeah the guy I stole from you and rode to a championship) as my keeper?
Tony wants to know if you have a favorite set of ACU’s?
Anyway keep safe and positive. We’re looking forward to your safe return.
All the best
JD and T.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Erik,
Love the blog. You are truly a gifted writer. Just wanted to point out one error in your response above. You do (still) have a church calling. In fact, the Stake President (Augusta) has not been especially happy with your recent leadership. He wants to know why you seem so distant from your quorum???
Gary