The Finer Things In Life

Sometimes in life we simply need to take a step back and appreciate the finer aspects thereof.  Namely freedom, comfortable sleeping arrangements, good food, and legroom.  Well, maybe not all of you are as grateful for legroom as I am, especially when I don’t get it.  Looking at the spacing of the seats on this military contract flight certainly made me thankful for the space I had.

            Showtime was 0600 yesterday morning at the Norfolk Naval Base air terminal.  Needless to say, it’s been an exhausting trip.  Fortunately I read ahead on the “what you should know” brochures before venturing out.  The breakfast diner in the terminal only accepted cash.  Subsequently, the ATM had been pumped dry within 15 minutes of everybody’s arrival.  After breakfast, I found one of the terminal employees and inquired of them which gate we were to depart from.  I then proceeded to park my butt in front of the door, ensuring myself first dibs on an exit row seat.  Mission accomplished. 

          

Below, you see pictures of 2 dramatically differing governmental opinions.  The first represents my final view of freedom and democracy for the next 6 months.  It is the port housing a portion of the Naval fleet in Norfolk.  The second is eerily similar to the aerial view of Wyoming terrain, with, of course, the exception to all those hiding in the bushes and mountains waiting to kill us.  Both legs of the flight were smooth and welcomingly anti-climatic, with the exception of one series of turbulence that resulted in me wearing my cup of coke vs. enjoying it’s tastefully refreshing attributes.

The view of the western seaboard of Ireland was pretty spectacular.  It’s cool to see how the cliffs drop 
off directly to the ocean.  Unfortunately, the slightly overcast skies didn't offer the picturesque clarity I had hoped for.  The flight from Ireland to Manas was overnight.  As I watched the map of our location on my in-flight movie screen, I pined for the opportunity to see the landscape during broad daylight.  I can only imagine that flying over the countries of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania would have offered some amazing views.

The facilities here are everything you would expect from a deployed location.  The chow halls are open 24 hours, in case you get the midnight munchies.  The toilets don’t have doors, but use shower curtains instead (at least there’s a curtain).  And, the name of our encampment is Hotel California…..a good twist for what I would call Tent City USA.  I’m sure there is some sort of psychological game behind the naming convention.  If they call it California, apparently it becomes California.  Errrr...........I'll let you make the call.

Now that I’m here in Manas, I will be gainfully unemployed until they put me on a plane to Bagram.  Each evening at 2200hs, we will be given a briefing during which our names will either be called for travel the next day, or not.  Unfortunately, tonight’s briefing has found me sitting here for another day, anxiously awaiting tomorrow evening’s roll call for Saturday’s flights.  Fingers crossed.

I guess that pretty much sums up the happenings of the past few days.  I anticipate the next few will be even more anti-climatic than the plane ride.  Hopefully I can keep all my drinks in my mouth and not down the front of my uniform.