ANA Reborn by Carl Facciponte - HTML preview
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Chapter 18
From:
SgtRalphThornton@
milspec.mail.gov
To:
Dr.MRobinson@aicon
cepts.inc.electmail.com
date:
Jun 15
subject:
I am on route
security:
Standard
encryption
(TLS)
Hi Honey-Buns,
I’ve only been gone a day, and I already miss you so much. Being away from you is going to be even tougher than I thought.
My flight from the Newark airport left on time, but you know that already because you probably
waited until the plane was gone to go back home. I tried to sleep most 161
of the way to Delhi, India, since it was a thirteen-hour flight. That’s a long time to sit with your butt planted in the same seat. I walked around a little when I wasn’t sleeping. My aisle seat made moving around easier. Food was okay, but, naturally, not the best.
Hey, they don’t make airplane food jokes for nothing (hint: you are supposed to smile at this). I’m already missing your cooking and seeing you in that silly little apron with the duck prints you like to wear, especially when that’s all you wear.
The flight from Delhi to Kabul would have been short by
comparison if it hadn’t been for a long overnight layover. My military expense budget provided lodging in one of the fleabag motels close to the airport, but I decided I’d rather upgrade to a better hotel for one night. Before I met you, I would have stayed at the fleabag. Now I 162
Carl Facciponte
ask myself if a place would be good enough to bring you to. You changed my world, girl! The Hamid Karzai International Airport was just three miles from the upscale Kabul City Walk Hotel. Let me think... a rundown shack of a motel or a nice city hotel. Easy choice.
My room was spacious enough, with hardwood floors around the king-size bed. It reminded me of our weekend getaway in Boston. That hotel had a king bed, too, and we bounced on every inch of it. The kitchen area made me smile when I saw it. I immediately headed for the coffee pot. The premeasured packets reminding me of you, too. Dark bliss. After I downed the coffee, I decided a hot bath would be just the thing to ease this travel-weary body.
That’s when the longing really started. You know just how to make my aching body forget its aches. I miss you so much, Hon. The
bathroom did remind me it was in 163
another country, though. The
plumbing for the sink and tub area ran outside the bathroom wall.
Strange, almost like an afterthought.
Dinner was good, and I could even recognize some of the foods on the buffet. I mostly ate the veggies.
Couldn’t tell if the beef-looking stuff was from a cow, donkey, camel, or what. Mystery Meat doesn’t appeal to me, but carrots look the same all over the world.
I’m bushed, so I’m going to turn in.
It’ll be an early flight tomorrow morning to Kandahar. I love you more than you can imagine and miss holding you. Hope it’s okay if I write to you every day if I can.
See you soon, Sweetie,
Ralph
***
From: SgtRalphThornton@milspec.mail.gov To:Dr.MRobinson@aiconcepts.inc.electma il.com
164
Carl Facciponte
date: Jun 16
subject: I’m here
security: Standard encryption (TLS) Good Afternoon, Sweet Thing,
I passed a very lonely night without you. It’s warm here, and all I could think of was the warmth of your body next to mine. I may need some therapy when I get back, but it won’t be for PTSD. It’ll be for LACKAU. (insert a smile here, Hon) My wakeup call was at 5:00 AM, but I really didn’t need it. They have chickens
in
the
residential
neighborhoods around the hotel even though we are almost in the city's center. Guess what? Chickens can’t tell time! They started crowing at 3:30 or so. Sheesh!
The Asian Breakfast Buffet was pretty good. I stuck to the rice and fish, like we did at the Siam Palace back home, but had to eat fast to make my flight. A cab brought me to the airport, and at 6 AM, the 165
plane made the hour and a half flight from Kabul to Kandahar. So far, so good.
You would have loved the 110 mile trip from Kandahar to Lashkar Gah.
NOT! You’re my impatient city girl, and this wouldn’t go over with you at all. Tons of overloaded vehicles on the roads here, people and motorbikes, donkeys, checkpoints, so the two hour trip took almost 5 ½
hours. We occasionally passed burned-out military and civilian vehicles pushed off the road and left to rust, or whatever happens to them in the desert. Lashkar Gah, along with the rest of the province, is a disputed area between the government and the Taliban, and it shows. It doesn’t help that the base also sounds like a Klingon name.
Our base was once the main
operating
outpost
for
the
International Security Forces. The ISF gave the base to the Afghan National Security forces in 2014.
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Carl Facciponte
They call it a main operating base, but from my viewpoint, it is an outpost in the desert. I guess we have different concepts about what constitutes a base.
I know I’m rambling, but I just want to talk to you.
The small contingent of US advisors feels secure here because there is a perimeter of concrete walls eight feet high around the entire base with small guard towers on the four corners. Besides, no one is going to attack a military base.
I’ve checked in, and it’s getting late.
I’ll be dreaming of holding you all night. Can’t wait ‘till we’re back together.
I’ll try not to make the next letter so boring, just wanted you to get a feel for where I am. Hey, speaking of a feel… I’m really missing you.
Love yu, babe,
Ralph
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Carl Facciponte