This last week we celebrated Christmas. Of course it was hard and I really looked forward to December 26th. Christmas Eve and Christmas day were still fun and we enjoyed a little time off to celebrate. We did our best to stay busy and pass the time until the 26th. I even started counting the days until I will be home for my mid-deployment leave. It is fast approaching and I am looking forward to being home even if it’s only for 2 weeks.
For one of my Christmas gifts from home my mom sent me a sweatshirt. She was being funny and sent me a Chevy Chase National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation shirt. She was playing off the Uncle Sam’s Vacation Blog, only now it’s Christmas Vacation. Uncle Sam’s Christmas Vacation is not nearly as fun as National Lampoon’s!
Christmas Eve day we started with one of our virtual runs. The theme was Ugly Christmas Sweaters. As usual the group of us got together and ran a 5K dressed in holiday spirit. I did a 10 mile warm up on the treadmill, changed and joined the group for the 5K. I bought the sweater for the run, but I ended up wearing it for our work Ugly Sweater day. For one day we could wear an ugly sweater over our uniform, a nice change to the Army camo. To finish the run I reminded everyone what Buddy the Elf said, “The best way to spread holiday cheer is to sing loudly for all to hear.” We sang Jingle Bells as we finished. After the run we happily eat Hot Chocolate Oreos and chatted. It was a really nice start to Christmas Eve.
In the evening my new boss and I were invited to the Public Affairs Office (PAO) Christmas Party. (Yes I said new boss, which is a story for another time and maybe a beer! A real beer!) The PAO office let us wear civilian clothes to the party. I have not worn anything but workout clothes, pajamas, or my uniform since June. It felt awesome to wear jeans. I wore my jeans and my Christmas Vacation shirt. I wanted to make sure I was fully in the Christmas spirit. We ate various snacks we received in packages from home. Being PAO they made a fake photo booth, which was fun. They even had us bring a wrapped gift we didn’t purchase. I brought a random shirt I found in my drawer. A really big guy ended up with the shirt. Maybe he knows someone else who will enjoy the shirt or even better if he proudly sports it while working out!
My only option for Christmas mass was mid-night mass. I am a huge fan of sleeping and really do not enjoy staying up much past 10 pm and really don’t like staying up until midnight. However it was Christmas and we could sleep in Christmas morning, so of course I went. The mass actually started at 11 pm so we were done by midnight. I ended up wearing my jeans to Church since I had already changed for the other party and didn’t feel the need to change again. It was extra nice to be in Church in civilian clothes. Our Priest is Czech and recently returned from his mid-tour leave. His mother was nice enough to make us all gingerbread cookies. When I got back to my room that evening I ate mine. It was my really early Christmas morning treat.
- My Holy Christmas Cookie
Unfortunately my Christmas morning sleep-in was interrupted by a personal born IED. We were kindly reminded there is still a war going on around us. We were rudely awakened around 7:30 am when two suicide bombers decided to give a very unpleasant Christmas present to local Afghans. The IEDs were close enough to hear and interrupt our routine, but not so close we were really effected. I spent the rest of the morning celebrating my Christmas morning the best way I know how, with a workout with friends. I ran and then joined my friends for a core class.
I got a good laugh from one of the Christmas packages we received. Even the inmates on death row are thinking of us.
Even with the time change I was fortunate enough to be able to call home after dinner in Afghanistan just in time to watch everyone open presents on Christmas morning. Santa even left a few presents for me under the tree. It was fun to watch the kids enjoy their presents. They each received a small rug from Afghanistan.
It was no fun being away for Christmas, but I made it to the 26th in one piece. I don’t want to have to miss another Christmas! Once is enough for me! I know the kids had a great time. Along with TJ and my parents my aunts, uncles, and cousins made sure they had a really special Christmas with lots of extra hugs and kisses. Taylyn is still rather angry with me for being gone and she won’t talk to me when I call, but I’ll be home soon enough to give her hugs! Below are a few pictures of Christmas cheer I received over the holidays!
Since many of you are interested I have an update on Spoony. We are still severely short on spoons. The advertising champagne is expanding. See the latest article below posted in the dining facility right above where we dry our hands.
So to summarize this last week, Yeah it sucked! In particular watching Taylyn be so angry with me. It will be great to be home soon, even if it’s just for a short time to reset everyone for the last part of this deployment. As a matter of fact today, December 30th, marks the half-way point. I truly believe the second half of everything goes faster than the first! At least that is what I’m going to keep telling myself!
Darchelle's Vacation with Uncle Sam 