As you all know, my 9MM and I are not good friends. I attribute this to two things. One, I just don’t like being in a place where the Force Protection measures require me to carry a loaded weapon. The second reason is the holster I have wraps around my waist and then around my leg. This of course is what the Navy issued me. The Navy also issued me so much gear, of which the majority I will never use. However they issued me a go to war holster that is awful. I wish they kept the extreme cold weather gear in exchange for a comfortable holster.
Since I can’t change where I am and the requirement to wear my weapon, I needed to figure out how to get a more comfortable holster. Well, this proved to be a monumental task here on this small base in Afghanistan. First of all I am left-handed and I shoot left handed. From what I am learning this is the wrong hand in so many ways. I did mention earlier being reprimanded in Qatar for using my left hand and I am continuing to be at a disadvantage. The left hand seems to be the wrong hand everywhere in this part of the World. For over two weeks we went to our small bizarre on base in search of a left handed hip holster. Every day we would walk over and talk to the local Afghans and every day they would say, “No, no left handed holster today. Return tomorrow I will have. I just have to get from my friend.” While waiting for someone’s friend to find a black market holster I started checking on Amazon. Amazon ships everything to Afghanistan, well except left handed holsters. I was getting desperate. The Lieutenant Colonel who I work for and I walked, as we did everyday, over to the bizarre. As usual someone’s cousin could not find my holster, but there was another promise of something in a few days. The Lieutenant Colonel states and when we come back it needs to be a medium fake holster, not a super fake holster. The owner of the stand says, “I never tell you anything in here is real. Everything I sell fake. Some fake better than other fake.”
The truth is that young Afghan selling us fake Under Armor, Nike, and Black Hawk (the holster brand) is correct. All of us here are just faking it, and I don’t mean fake like we are not acting authentic. I mean fake as in we get up everyday and we say we’re good. We say we’re happy. We even say we don’t worry about home. The truth is that is not true, it’s just fake. It’s better fake, and its necessary fake, but it’s still fake. There is not one of us, if given the choice to go see our families wouldn’t jump on the first helicopter out of here. Now some certainly would say they would never leave, but they’re just using better fake. The real them would rather be home. I’m fake here for sure, but not inauthentic. I am still true to myself, but I’m jaded and will stay that way until I can be home with my family. I’m jaded to what is really going on outside these walls and I’m happy to do my job. People die everyday for no reason, just because of where they were born and that just sucks. I can only hope that I can do something, even if it’s small to help one less innocent Afghan die and maybe someday they can walk down their streets free just like we do in the United States everyday.
I’m sure you’re still curious on how my holster drama ends. As we’re leaving the shop discouraged for the sixth time the Lieutenant Colonel realizes we could just buy the belt piece for the hip and remove my connector piece and problem solved. So after weeks of turmoil we found something that works for only $5. I will have to reassemble what the Navy gave me when I return, but I’ll take care of that in a year.
After almost 2 months of wearing my 9mm, I am ready to give it a name. I decided on Pat. Pat is a name that represents neutral. It’s neither male nor female, good nor bad, happy nor sad, it just is. That is how I feel about Pat, it just is. I take Pat everywhere I go and if needed Pat will be there and I will appreciate my side kick Pat.
As for everyone at home, Timyra had a much better week. Taylyn was excited to go to school. Buddy enjoyed camp and despite a morning of sadness he’s happy. Last weekend they went camping with my mom’s family and enjoyed camping just like I did with my parents as a child. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins were there to give them hugs and make amazing memories with them. Thank you everyone for giving them extra hugs for me!
Darchelle's Vacation with Uncle Sam 