December 25th, 2009

December 25th by all accounts is Christmas, though I've come to find that Christmas is not a date on a calendar, but more so a series of events and activities done in the company of family and friends. As you may have guessed, few of those are found in Afghanistan... So, to an extent, it doesn't feel like Christmas here at all. I worked on Christmas Eve and will no doubt work on Christmas Day. Part of this stems from the amount of work we have to get done here, and part of it has to do with staying busy lest I spend too much time thinking about all the things I'd rather be doing with my Christmas...

But, before anyone gets the crazy notion that all hope is lost and my life has become a desolate wasteland of monotonous work and misery, let me say it is not so! The true generosity of friends and strangers, and the camaraderie of my fellow Seabees has salvaged the holiday and made the best of it.

For one, I can say that starting around late November we started to receive a steady stream of Christmas related care packages. Various groups, including the office of Qualcom (where my boss works for his civilian career), the San Diego Fire Department (where one of the OPS Cheifs works or his civilian career), and the Blue Star Moms of Marin (where my mother volunteers with other mothers of deployed troops) have sent each person in my entire office a stocking filled with various things ranging from MatchBox cars to candy to random treats. Our walls are strewn with these stockings, all a testament to the fact that it is Christmas here in Afghanistan, and people back home care about us.

Furthermore, each person in my office has received at least a few boxes - some many more. Boxes filled with home baked cookies or cakes, snacks, cards from home, photos, gifts, you name it. I have said before that getting packages makes it feel like Christmas - well, getting Christmas packages is even better. Even something as simple as a Christmas card makes the work day brighter. Family, friends, and even complete strangers have sent things to support us, and every little bit makes things feel more like home. I have received cards or packages from family, old co-workers, friends of my parents, family members of co-workers, friends at home, friends from afar, random 3rd grade classrooms, you name it. No matter where they're from, they each help to make things a little more special.

So yes, I will wake up tomorrow morning and do my regular routine (I do get to sleep in...) and put on my uniform and holster my pistol and stroll to work... I will not gather around a tree with my parents to drink mimosas and open presents in front of the fire, admiring all the beautifully wrapped boxes under an expertly dressed tree... I might eat some of the various baked goods we have in the office, not the traditional Eggs Benedict I always look forward to. It will be different, there's no doubt about that... But as much as things change, we always find ways to see the similarities...

This is my bed tonight - you'll note two things. 1 - I have some battery powered Christmas lights strung over my bed, as festive as can be. 2- I no longer have to sleep under my sleeping bag for warmth, due to two awesome gifts from my mom. (An advantage to not having a "real" Christmas is getting to open gifts early, there's no big event to wait for). A heated mattress pad and flannel sheets - my mother is the best!

Today was the command Christmas Party, we had a great spread of food from the galley and a slew of baked goods people put out from their care packages. Here you see my Chief and I enjoying some egg nog (which is not nearly as good without the booze) at our desks. Sure, it was Christmas party time, but there was still work to be done. You'll notice one of the stockings hung on the wall to the left, and a kick-ass digital picture frame on the wall behind me. Many thanks to B&E!

After work (my regularly scheduled Thursday night meeting was moved up from 1900 to 1600, so I got out around 1800 and left work around 1845) my roommate, Doc Schelzig, and I decided to take some time outside to enjoy a cigar and a near-beer. I know a year from now I'll remember sitting on a bench in dusty Kandahar chatting about life with him. I hope I can remember it from some place nicer though.

From my latest trip outside the wire, I decided to bring some humor and joy to the day. This Santa means business!

So as you can see, even though Christmas in Kandahar is vastly different than anything I've ever experienced before (or hope to experience again), it still has some of the flavor and flair of the season. I hope everyone else has a wonderful, more traditional Christmas. If you are around family, friends, or loved ones - make sure to give them a hug and let them know you appreciate them. That's probably the thing I will miss most about this Christmas... So mom and dad - I love you and appreciate everything you've done to support me. I'll be home soon.