Merry Christmas from the Middle East

Grapeshot · December 24, 2011, 03:01:49 PM

Merry Christmas to all from the Middle-east.

I was in a Mall the other day and the department store was selling artificial Christmas trees and ornaments, and playing Christmas music. And I am in KUWAIT. Go figure. God will proclaim His Glory where He wants to, regardless of how we see the matter.

Even the Hotel I am in is playing Christmas Music during breakfast in the hotel's dining room.

fourfingersofdeath · December 24, 2011, 04:15:37 PM

Thanks for being over there on our behalf. Bad time to be away from home. I suppose having the music, etc might improve things or make them worse. Must be weird coming from the Nothern Hemisphere, being in a air con'd mall hearing Christmas carols and walking outside an having the heat suck the air out of your lungss. It is summer here but not as hot as where you are at, even in winter I suppose. Stay safe and thanks once again, Mick.

Mako · December 24, 2011, 04:58:06 PM

Hey Grapeshot! Merry Christmas!!!

Which hotel are you in? I'm assuming Kuwait city...

I spent a few weeks at the downtown Holiday Inn and had a Northeast corner room with a view of the bay and even Failaka island. It had probably the second best breakfast in town.

Looking forward to you getting home. I have a friend in Helmand who should be sleeping as I write this , I'm expecting a call from him in about 4 hours. Then I'll call him back about three hours later in a three way conference call with one of his kids who is in our time zone when we are in the 25th. Then two hours later he'll be calling his wife on the West Coast. He was supposed to have been home by the end of November, but he's in limbo right now. I may have to fly out and kidnap his wife if it goes on much longer. She'd be here now except one of their girls is in school in Oregon right now.

It's all about family right now, I hope you had (or have the chance ) to talk with yours today.

Merry Christmas Grapeshot and thank you,
Mako

WaddWatsonEllis · December 24, 2011, 06:47:12 PM

Back when I was enlisted, I spent a tour at KKMC as an aeromedevac tech ... it feel weird to be retired ... to paraphrase a guy who retired about the same time, 'I fell like the old fire dog who is too crippled to run with the fire wagons ... and now must sit by the fire and await their return'...

Merry Christmas and here is hoping for a quick homecoming!

Jefro · December 24, 2011, 07:10:50 PM

Merry Christmas from the NC coast.

God Bless
Jefro

Drayton Calhoun · December 24, 2011, 07:16:21 PM

I know the feeling Wadd...

Old Top · December 25, 2011, 01:03:03 AM

Wadd,

I could not have said it better.

Old Old Top

Steel Horse Bailey · December 25, 2011, 01:16:00 AM

Indeed!

Grapeshot ... and all the rest of you over there:

Have a MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year!!

Major 2 · December 25, 2011, 05:52:05 AM

"'I fell like the old fire dog who is too crippled to run with the fire wagons ... and now must sit by the fire and await their return'...

That is about as profound statment as I ever heard ... and very true...

Grapeshot · December 25, 2011, 06:02:38 AM

Yes, I'm in the Down Town Holiday Inn. It's about a ten minute walk to the mall by the Marina. Weather here isn't to bad. Temperature is mild and warmer than where I was in Iraq. My wife called this morning around 7 am local so I feel better. Hope all my pards have a very Merry Christmas.

Thanks for all the warm wishes from all of you.

TwoWalks Baldridge · December 25, 2011, 07:42:32 AM

Merry Christmas to all. May all be safe.

Dick Dastardly · December 25, 2011, 08:49:51 AM

Merry Christmas to you Grapeshot! May you have good people to hang out with during this sojourn away from the USA. God bless you and keep you and bring you success in your endeavors on our behalf. We appreciate what you do.

Also, please know that we are having a brown Christmas here in Wisconsin too.

DD-DLoS

Hill Beachy · December 25, 2011, 01:22:15 PM

Merry Christmas to you old pard, and to all those who are with you there.

Get the job done and hurry on back so you can play cowboy again!

Crow Choker · December 25, 2011, 02:22:45 PM

Merry Christmas to ya Grapeshot!!! Thank you for your service, may you and all the troops return home safely and soon. MY son just returned on the 21st of this month from a tour in Iraq. He was in Kuwait for a short time before flying out. He was with the 389th Engineer Company out of Iowa. A right nice Christmas present to have him home!!! God Bless! Yours, Crow Choker
Note-Having a brown Christmas here in Iowa also-heard that at this time last year 18" lay upon the land. Got a new snowblower (1st one to own) and it's sittin idle!

WaddWatsonEllis · December 25, 2011, 02:35:06 PM

Drayton, Old Top & Major 2,

Would that they were my words ... I was just paraphrasing another aerovac tech's thoughts.

But this thread is about Grapeshot ....

And Grapeshot, I wish you the very best of tours ... and Godspeed in your return!

Merry Christmas!