Deployment Update

Cheryl - Jan. 2009

Baghdad Bulletin
7 May 2009
Issue 2
Happy Mother’s Day!

Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues!

This time, I’m going to try an outline to help me remember highlights.
 
People I’ve met:
 - Bagpiper in an U.S. Army uniform as the sun went down. What a wonderful surprise.
-  Met the Bandmaster of The Official U.S. Army Band of the Multi-National Corps”. It will be fun listening to their rehearsals occasionally!
-  Met a Chaplain with a beautiful tenor voice who is not opposed to me accompanying him from time to time during the service.
-  Found a handwritten letter from a retired Army veteran who sent letters to soldiers in a care package. A wonderful letter on loose-leaf paper, not Xeroxed, thanking deployed soldiers and families for their service and sacrifice.
 
Funny story:
-  Walking to work, I saw some ducks (again). This time they were walking in the road, on the sidewalk, same direction, as though they are headed for work. I stopped to take their picture and they all surrounded me. It was funny. They thought I was going to feed them. I started to the gate and they followed me……
 
Job:
-  Conference went well. Met more customers and am visiting their offices.
-  Attended a newcomer’s brief which was really helpful. One of the briefers was in my Army War College Class of 2005.
-  Young Iraqi soldiers at one building I visited were very friendly and kept saluting me.
-  A team member finally arrived after being delayed for several days due to dust storms and bad visibility.  It will be great having him here to help with this huge task.
 
My stuff:
- Laundry is limited to 28 pieces – socks are counted as pairs equal to 1 item. When you drop off the bag, you must dump it on the counter and count everything. The receipt shows everything that was brought in for accountability. It’s all folded when you get it back. Just like home!
- Had a foot massage – it was a piece of heaven. Must schedule routinely…
- Got the hymns for Sunday service – tried last Sunday but people didn’t sing.
- Found a small palm plant between parking lot and office. If I have leftover water bottles from passengers in Serendipity, I pour it on the plant. Maybe it will survive!
 
Take care and have a great week! 
 
Fondly,
Cheryl