Holidays From Iraq

So Easter as I remember it, usually consists of rising fairly early to prepare for church only to find that you have recieved a basket of different chocolate goodies(for what reason I will never know, but you know what no one complains about chocolate). From there it was into your nicest clothes and off to church with the whole family. Afterwards it was home or to someone elses house for a big family meal. These same things happen year after year with little or no recognition to anyone involved.

But for those of us that are away from home, holidays can sometimes(but not everytime) be quite different in many ways. I have experienced my fourth holiday away from home today, and as I sat down at the computer this evening it donned on me the distinct differences in my practices here as compared to what they would be if I was back home. For example, today started as any other day has in the past 180 that I have spent away from home, it was not until late in the morning that I came to the realization that today was Easter. I can just imagine my family, and everyone else for that matter, and I have to be totally honest; I am jealous. You never think about the little things that mean so much to you, until you are not able to have those things when you expect them. It takes me back to christmas, which in case you were wondering sucked balls! I bring up christmas cause for me that holiday is surrounded with more tradition than all the others that my family and I celebrate. It consists of midnight church service on Christmas Eve and now that we are all older, a late breakfast of mom's breakfast strudel and then on to the gift giving. None of this happened, but the key is that I was still able to have my christmas here. And although it is harder and usually takes more effort, myself and every other servicemember abroad are able to keep in touch with those we love, sometimes not directly but through the simple act of observing holidays in a foreign land.

I am out of time for now.

RAKKASAN OUT