Underwhelmed. Maybe?

I experienced my first helicopter ride two days ago. If you can guess from the title of this post, I was a little disappointed. I don't know what I was expecting -excitement, exhiliration, some thrill that I've imagined and thought about for a long time? None of those feelings were there. We lifted off and I looked out the rear right window as we powered over the city of Baghdad. I had no feeling; I wasn't nervous or intoxicated with the least bit of adrenaline. Nothing except a hope vanishing in disappointment.

I went to the International Zone (IZ) with a lieutenant and another first class to conduct training with some army folks. I was finally doing my job. No more Excel spreadsheets. I took about 25 pictures or so. Due to my late arrival back on Victory Base Complex (VBC), I haven't had any time during the "good" hours of internet to upload any photos. I must say that the IZ is amazing. Compared to VBC where we walk on dirt roads and have very little vegitation, the IZ is in the middle of Baghdad where there are asphalt roads, an abundance of palm trees, and breathtaking monuments. One of the people we knew there is a fairly high ranking officer. He let us out on his balcony which is about 400 square feet of absolute astonishment. I took most of my pictures here. The atmosphere was pretty hazy due to the winds, but the view was still admirable. We walked around other parts of the IZ and saw numerous features easily recognizable to anyone who watched the news before the war started. Until this point, there have been only two things in my life that have left me speechless - The Vatican, and the Grand Canyon. These palaces and mosques, and the work put into them were truly amazing. The monstrosity of a mosque on the horizon was unreal. It's a shame it will never be completed. If only I could've seen them before countless Tomohawk missles and JDAM bombs had gotten to them. In the evening before our return flight, a group of other navy personnel doing the same thing as us took us to the US Embassy for dinner. The best dinner I've had in months was eaten here. I had a turkey, ham, and swiss panini. It was delicious. We then smoked cigars and drank coffee (wish it was scotch) by the pool as US and foreign officers mingled with each other, all the while classic swing music was being played. Because of the older modeling of the embassy, and the music with people dancing in different uniforms, I really felt like I was in some sort of time warp. I had a good time for once.

Besides being delayed due to the winds, our flight back was signifcantly better than the originating flight. This time I sat right behind the pilots in the middle. I had a full view of everything they saw. I got to appreciate the attentiveness of the gunners. I think I had a feeling of importance also. Relatively speaking, I don't think many people get the opportunity to ride in a helo. I guess that makes me important in my book.

I'm currently recovering from one of the more unpleasant colds I've had in my life. I call it "Saddam's Revenge". It's going around. Some people are acting like it's the hantavirus. I'd like to think that I've always had a pretty strong immune system and I'm trying to convince myself that I'm no longer feeling the effects of the cold.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Another holiday away from home. Before I was married, missing a holiday stopped meaning anything to me in boot camp. I will get sad now, but not visually. I still have no regrets about joining the military. Not everyone has the opportunity to do what I do - to fight for something they really love. I almost feel like a glory hound. Like I want to always have the ability to do something righteous.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

-C