So once again I spent another birthday over here in Iraq. I will have to say my 27th was many times better than my 21st! My fear was that it would be just another day among the already many that have passed by without notice and that I would be the only one that seemed to care, would silently celebrate another pass around the sun.
My first thoughts were to just let that happen and be done with it. As the day drew closer and the thoughts of being that much closer to turning 30 were churning in my head I formed a plan to not go quietly in to my 27th year. I was going to do something, anything that wasn't the same old thing. There are event posters posted on the walls leading in to the chow hall and are briefly scanned but never really looked at as you hurry your way to into the air conditioned building for some food. As usual I would turn my head, scan for anything that looked new but never braking my stride.
On one day I found something that caught my eye. It was a band poster for an upcoming show. As I looked closer I noticed the event date, my birthday! I had never heard of the band but didn't care, it was something to do that was different. After looking them up online and sampling some of their music (and liked it) I was determined to see them play. It so happened that my normal day off was on my birthday as well, a second good thing! So in the coming days I passed to word along that a group of us should go and see them perform. A few people were on board right away, the others did the typical noncommittal "oh yeah that sounds good."
I stayed up till midnight of the 26th so I could celebrate my birthday to myself and then go to bed. I was surprised as I got a new battery for my radio to get a card filled with messages of all sorts from a lot of the people here! Along with the card I was then greeted with a more "happy birthdays" from everyone that was still up. I was moved that anyone besides myself would acknowledge the occasion! This is important due to the fact that I viewed myself as not being really part of the group yet since only being with them for only a year. I was with my last unit and same guys for eight years and had developed years of bonding and memories with them. To be greeted like I was on my birthday was very touching and made me feel welcome.
The plans were made and the people invited, now getting off shift at 7 am the morning of my birthday all was left was to wait for the nights festivities. I went back to my room and called my wife. We spoke for almost an hour! It was a very good conversation and made my morning! Usually the Internet weakens out after a while and can't talk that long. I was very pleased to have all that time together so to speak. We spoke about this and that, things we wanted to do on my two week leave and of course our pups! She informed me that my present was in the mail. I should get it here in a day or so and am looking forward to seeing what it is! I also got a gift from my friend Chris, a very nice pocket knife made by Benchmade.
Dinner was at this little eatery called Sammy's by the movie theater (yes, we have a movie theater on a base in Iraq) and ate pizza. When you walk in, the smell of a traditional pizza parlor fills your senses and for a brief moment takes you out of Balad and back home to your favorite pizza parlor, for me a place called Papa's Pizza where they cook their pizzas on stone slabs. Only when you look around and see that everyone there wears a uniform and has a weapon do you realize that you are still here.
After a good meal, we head over to the rec-center for the show. There is a stage set with all the microphones and instruments. The band is a local band from Minneapolis and has a sound that can be described as a punk rock version of Ben Folds. Strong lyrics, and mix of passion, guitars and a keyboard make for a great show. Once again you don't feel like you are still on a deployment till you look around. After an hour long set I got to meet the band, get my picture taken and a free cd, then it was time to go back to the "real" world.
A few of us decided to play some cards, sit around and take turns picking on each other as we smack talk through two intense games of Uno that seemed to take forever to finish. As we ended the second game we all agreed that it was time to end the night. I kicked everyone out of my room and crawled into my bed surely to fall asleep not long after. And as I lay there very tired and almost asleep I found myself content at the end of a good day!
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