thoughts on life

When in doubt castle.

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Mom Meatloaf !

Movies are the main source of entertainment. Soldiers are watching movies on their computers, at the Red Cross or in their offices. They sell hijacked DVD copies for $3.00 a piece at the local Hajji market which does a brisk traffic in ripping off Hollywood. A movie is a place a soldier can go and get a laugh, see a pretty girl or bump into a truth.

Any movie with Jessica Alba in a bathing suit is an immediate crowd pleaser. Soldiers have been talking about “The Hurt Locker” which I thought was excellent. Tyler Perry movies have a big audience but I think Will Ferrell rules over here. We all wonder how the Oscar could have passed him up for his understated performance as Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights or his short but brilliant performance in Wedding Crashers. Laughter is good medicine on bad days.

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more Li Po

Bathed and Washed
 
"Bathed in fragrance,
do not brush your hat;
Washed in perfume,
do not shake your coat:
 
"Knowing the world
fears what is too pure.
the wisest man
prizes and stores light."
 
By Bluewater
an old angler sat:
You and I together,
Let us go home.
 
Li Po
 
I make a living as a fishermen.  I know how to wait and be patient.  I wait for the fly line to peal back and straighten before returning home to the water.  I stare endlessly at the water waiting for a fish to dimple the surface.  I am waiting for spring with my mind floating like a cloud over the mountains.

Some are going others are coming.

It is almost January and the weather has remained good. The mornings are ushered in with cool temperatures and warm pinks on the peaks. Today, the wind comes from the north clearing out the dust and pollution in the valley. The mountains sparkle like jewels.

Some of the soldiers are going home. They are going home after years in Iraq and years in Afghansitan. They quietly go home. We fight wars with no parades. Heroics and heros are never affirmed.

Other soldiers are coming some with multiple deployments and some are new. The enemy is never going away and odd kind of job security. No one is waiting for a parade.

return to sender

Two nights ago there was a rocket attack.  People rushed to the bunkers.  I was in what I call "The Reading Room" to be exact the last stall in the latrine.  Like everyone else I heard the boom.  My first thought was this where Elvis ended it in a bathroom.  So, like "The King" I decided to make my stand there.  Then I wondered if Elvis was singing "Return to Sender" when he headed into the afterlife. 

on the edge of the empire

The following is a poem by the Chinese poet Li Po.  I discovered him over 30 years ago in a book of poems translated by Ezra Pound.  Tonight the moon is full over the Hindu Kush Mountains here at Bagram Air Base with Li Po's voice whispering from the peaks.



Taking Leave of a Friend



Blue mountains lie beyond the north wall;
Round the city's eastern side flows the white water.
Here we part, friend, once forever.
You go ten thousand miles, drifting away
Like an unrooted water-grass.
Oh, the floating clouds and the thoughts of a wanderer!
Oh, the sunset and the longing of an old friend!
We ride away from each other, waving our hands,
While our horses neigh softly, softly .

Li Po 701-762

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planting for spring

The winter in the Hindu Kush has been very mild and warm.  There is snow on the high peaks at sunset they are hot pink.  They remind me of the Mission Mountains near Flathead Lake. In spring the fiery pink is called Alpine Glow.  An Afghan is oiling his Enfield rifle like his great-grandfather did when the British were here.  After he oils his weapon he carefully wraps it like his father did when the Russians were here.  Right now he is going outside to bury it while the Americans are here.  In the spring, he will show his son where to dig it up.