Sorry I haven't written for a while.  Our internet connection has been so slow that it's been barely worth trying to log on.  It's a weird, new aspect of going to war these days; guys download and watch movies, have video chats with their kids, wives or girlfriends and play online games.  The upside is a better connection to loved ones.  The downside is that rather than connecting with each other we're often wrapped up in some form of amusement.  We still talk at meals and between training evolutions, which is good.  I'm just anti-amusement.  The word itself is a clue as to why.  "Muse" means to think, or to reflect on.  The prefix "A-" means "without" as in "amoral".  So being anti-amusement makes me pro-thinking.

That's all an aside.  Last Sunday my sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, one nephew and my father all came to visit me from where they live in Anderson, SC.  I hadn't seen most of them for a year, which is a long time when it comes to the young'uns.  After a fine non-cafeteria meal we found a walkway along one of the rivers in Columbia.  The path wound through the waterworks, along the historic canal and past some historical places of interest. 

I was in uniform since I thought my family would enjoy seeing what I look like in my new camouflage duds.  I like to pay particular attention to the people who pass by whenever I'm in uniform and observe their reactions.  Depending on which uniform I am wearing most people don't seem to notice.  Although it is difficult to miss a man running around in a crackerjack costume.  Some look fearful (I don't understand this) and some look disgusted (I do understand this).  I just smile at them and say hello.  A precious number warm my heart by how they react. 

A timid looking middle aged woman passed our group on her way out of the park.  As she did, she looked directly at me and with a shy voice said, "Thank you."  I don't think anyone else noticed and she passed quickly by before I could say thank you in return.  Other people have said similar things to me, normally more boisterously and often stopping to ask me a few questions.  But something about this woman's quiet sincerity and how serious it seemed to her that she say something made her comment mean a lot more.  A lump formed in my throat and I suddenly felt a lot better about this new job I have.