Good News Follows Bad...

There are three words that while you are in Iraq will make you cringe... Hmmm on second thought there are a lot of words that can make you cringe. There is a list of small phrases that you don't want to hear said to you or anyone that you know.... On the top of the list is Red Cross Message. A Red Cross Message is a direct line of communication from back home and is almost always bad news. There are a few reasons to have a positive red cross message, such as your wife, sister mother, whatever, had a child. Nine times out of ten though when you hear those words your heart jumps into your throat and your brain starts coming up with all of these different worst case scenarios. Especially if your a paranoid person like me who constantly worries about everything. The reason I bring this up today, is that last night while I was at work and RFG was peacefully sleeping in our little area. Our Platoon Sgt Woke RFG and told him to wake up and come to the office... Here's the thing, soldiers or not, when we first wake up we are not paying complete attention. At First RFG was under the impression we had some kind of mission that was urgent... When the platoon sgt came back a couple of minutes later and repeated what he said "You need to come to the office now, you have a redcross message, there has been a fire, that's all I know" (I paraphrased I wasn't there) that little panic light went off in his head...On a normal day it takes about eight minutes to walk from our living area to our office... Eight minutes can be an eternity when your loved ones are at risk... I can not even begin to imagine everything that went through his mind at that time. Luckily Everyone in RFGs family is fine. The house has some damage but it is already being repaired, I don't know the complete details, and I'm sure I've probably over stepped the personal line already. But I wanted to give an accurate picture of what those words can do... I didn't find out until the shift change ( The oncoming shift leader sleeps in the area next to myself and RFG) and all he told me was "don't wake him, he got a RedCross Message last night, something about a fire, he'll tell you more when he wakes up" Now you have to understand... I absolutely adore RFG's family I practically lived there the six months before we deployed, they are in every sense of the word my Washington family. Needless to say I was near panic the entire way back to the office (our office is only where we do admin, we work outside the fence) when I finally arrived back at the tent RFG was sleeping so I went ate breakfast, grabbed his favorites cereals, yogurt a banana, and chocolate milk (cuz I'm a good friend) so that when he woke up he wouldn't starve... He was still sleeping I went to the internet cafe for an hour and he was still sleeping. I finally decided that if I didn't sleep I was likely to shake him violently until he told me what happened, so we slept... When he finally did wake up. He told me what I told you already, and relieved what seemed like a 6 ton weight off my throat.... On the complete opposite side of the spectrum I got some great news today, RFG had to go talk to the Platoon Sgt to let him know what was going on and I tagged along with him. ( I tend to follow him around like a lost puppy even when he hasn't nearly scared the life out of me) As we were walking out the Lt hollered my name (Very rarely is this followed by anything other than a mind numbing discussion that will slowly grow into a dull throbbing headache) I very theatrically rolled my eyes and went back to her little Micro office, she asked me how many foot lockers I had.. (at this point it took all of my strength not to break into my patented Happy Dance, yes patented. The only reason they would bring my footlocker to Scania is if I was going to be staying here el'peremnente... It means permanent you uncultured swine) My response with as much nonchalance as I could muster (which means a large lopsided grin) "Uh... (grin) Just one ma'am... Its green..." And then she told me they should be bringing it up soon... I said "thanks" and walked out... (I might of skipped but I was trying to walk) I am so darn smooth... I didn't say anything about it for like five minutes and then I giggled, (shut it) did my Happy Dance and said "Their bringing my footlocker, that's very good." RFG said yeah I thought the same thing... (deep inside he wanted to skip to)....

Random Stupid Criminal of the Day: Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits. . ...You think Iraq ever had a Camel express similar to our Pony Express????