Monday, December 17, 2007

Holiday Break

Most faithful readers! This week I'll be going back home to Dallas for a few days and then I'm off to Nebraska to celebrate Christmas. Being away from my computer means there won't be Photo Stories for awhile, but don't fret! After the new year I'll be back to tell more stories, and I have a few ideas about how to keep this blog fresh. Until then, enjoy my recollection of Christmas in Baghdad, 2006. Happy holidays!

Your favorite phony soldier,

Alex

13 comments:

Nixon said...

What! "Phony" soldiers don't celebrate xmas. They roast american flags at hippie protests in Washington and badmouth Rush Limbaugh. Well this "phony" Navy LT can't wait to hear your "phony" stories about Iraq, enjoy the holiday!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the holidays! Your readers will look forward to a new post in 2008.
Take care,
Cathy B

unhappycamper said...

This phony veteran wishes you and yours a very Merry and Peaceful Christmas.

membrain said...

Thanks for evrything Alex. Have a great Christmas. Happy Holidays.

The Minstrel Boy said...

have a great holiday season dude. enjoy the hell out of yourself, and your family.

one phoney to another. kishmesh jooni (beautiful christmas in western apache) dude.

Anonymous said...

Hi Alex,

Enjoy your holidays - your phony courage is an insipration to me any many others.

Unknown said...

I'd like to thank all of the fans of AOD who have been unstinting in their support of Alex's blog. In the spirit of Christmas I'll even thank the naysayers and critics, who are at least taking a few minutes out of their so-busy days to read the blog!

I spent much of last Christmas frenziedly Googling "Iraq" and otherwise slurping up every bit of news I could get about our forces in Baghdad and environs, as Alex had just moved there from Mosul. This year I can relax and we can be a regular family again.

In a weird way, I must confess, Alex's time in Iraq gave me something big to look forward to every day. As soon as I signed on to my work PC, I'd check for Alex's latest note from his AO. Every time I'd see his e-mail in my browser my heart would jump because I knew that at least for that one day he was okay. If I didn't see anything, I'd refresh that sucker every few minutes all day long. I'd feel beat by the end of the day if I hadn't heard anything. After I got home, the process would repeat itself until I was too tired and had to go to bed.

Now that Alex's journey has carried him home and out of the Army, my e-mail is quiet without the hourly Google Alerts from "Mosul," "Taji," "Baqubah," "Stryker," etc. They're all turned off now, and like 98% of America, the war is over for me. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort to remember that we still have our sons and daughters and sisters and brothers out there in the shit, on this Christmas of 2007, at risk, fighting, getting hurt and in the saddest instances, dying. I call on all of you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, not just during this or succeeding holiday seasons, but until they're all home for good.

Merry Christmas to all in AOD-land.

Love,

Alex's Dad

Jim Smith II said...

Alex - Have a joyous and peaceful Christmas and New Year. You've earned it.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the stories, Alex. Look forward to hearing more in the new year. You ought to consider taking up writing full-time in some capacity; you've got a real talent for it.

Prince Roy said...

another phony veteran, now a diplomat, here wishing you and yours happy holidays. thanks for the blog.

Cindy/Snid said...

Nebraska?! Now I know why I like you :) (I have lots of family in NE as well...) A very Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for all of your sharing. It is a great service.

Unknown said...

Long-time reader, first comment here.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas from cold wet Ireland :)

Anonymous said...

Alex -

I'm a vet from the Gulf War - I do pray you have a peaceful...stressing on the peace part...new years. I've been one of your "faithful" readers since about the 2nd blog entry and have passed the address on to everyone I know. You are probably sick of hearing this, but THANK YOU for your service. THANK YOU for going, so I didn't have to, nor my husband. One of my sons is now in Iraq, and the other outside of CONUS. THANK YOU for helping them. You are forever blessed.

a USAF and USM mom...