"I know you have probably seen the news now... it wasn't us. I tried to call as soon as I could" Belinda says.
She is right.
We saw the news.
Suicide bomber attacks a Canadian convoy.
One civilian killed, a soldier injured.
Someone we knew was there in that convoy. She nor we know if it was the friend who was injured yet. Injured persons names are not released to the media so we probably will not know for some time. All we know is that they are okay now, and that the injured person is back to duty already.
Showing posts with label afghanistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label afghanistan. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
IMP's ...otherwise known as 'Green Eggs and Ham"
The diet living at a post in Afghanistan is limited at best. While they always have something to eat...sometimes what you have to eat is not all that appealing.
Lately, for reasons unknown, there has been a surplus of breakfast IMP's (individual meakl packs)- referred to in the days of old as green eggs and ham! But as of late, they have not always received the lunch and supper rations when these items are distributed. Considering these IMP's are made with the intent of having a 3 year shelf life, you can just imagine how 'tasty' they are...would you want to consume a piece of 3 year old bread? ;-)...
Now imagine only having breakfast - over and over.
This has led to some inventive cooking with whatever supplies the soldiers could scrounge, most recently they were BBQing bologna. Belinda, who has always had a strong dislike for rice, asked me to send a huge bag of it...even undesirable foods look tasty next to an IMP!
Till next time,
Julie
Lately, for reasons unknown, there has been a surplus of breakfast IMP's (individual meakl packs)- referred to in the days of old as green eggs and ham! But as of late, they have not always received the lunch and supper rations when these items are distributed. Considering these IMP's are made with the intent of having a 3 year shelf life, you can just imagine how 'tasty' they are...would you want to consume a piece of 3 year old bread? ;-)...
Now imagine only having breakfast - over and over.
This has led to some inventive cooking with whatever supplies the soldiers could scrounge, most recently they were BBQing bologna. Belinda, who has always had a strong dislike for rice, asked me to send a huge bag of it...even undesirable foods look tasty next to an IMP!
Till next time,
Julie
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A call from Belinda
A quick note before I depart for work...
There is a 12 hour time difference so we get the call in the middle of the night... Belinda was amazed and in awe of how clear and big the skies are... She can see forever there.
The mountains are beautiful, very jagged and distant. She said their country is beautiful- the land, the trees, the people- if only it were not for the signs of war...
Her area has endured a great deal of strife but it pleased her to know it had been reduced enough recently that there were children appearing in her region again, they herd the sheep and like to wave at the soldiers and are always hopeful for a treat. These kids have lost everything in most cases, lives interupted, so we have a treat box and box of children's clothing readying for mail by months end. Not much considering the amount of need there, but a start at least. We will also be sending on a box of treats, clean socks, toiletries and other goodies for the soldiers in her particular post.
As I type this on my laptop, readying for work in my comfortable home, I am reminded of just how fortunate we are to be here in Canada... I am humbled to know that children can endure so much violence and hardship that would destroy the strongest spirit amongst adults, but still find joy in the simple task of being able to herd their sheep again and wave at the soldiers, hopeful for a small treat...
There is a 12 hour time difference so we get the call in the middle of the night... Belinda was amazed and in awe of how clear and big the skies are... She can see forever there.
The mountains are beautiful, very jagged and distant. She said their country is beautiful- the land, the trees, the people- if only it were not for the signs of war...
Her area has endured a great deal of strife but it pleased her to know it had been reduced enough recently that there were children appearing in her region again, they herd the sheep and like to wave at the soldiers and are always hopeful for a treat. These kids have lost everything in most cases, lives interupted, so we have a treat box and box of children's clothing readying for mail by months end. Not much considering the amount of need there, but a start at least. We will also be sending on a box of treats, clean socks, toiletries and other goodies for the soldiers in her particular post.
As I type this on my laptop, readying for work in my comfortable home, I am reminded of just how fortunate we are to be here in Canada... I am humbled to know that children can endure so much violence and hardship that would destroy the strongest spirit amongst adults, but still find joy in the simple task of being able to herd their sheep again and wave at the soldiers, hopeful for a small treat...
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Countdown
Here we sit... Belinda and her fellow troops preparing to depart for Afghanistan in 2 days. She is at the base right now tending to any remaining administration chores and packing (and re-packing) her immense amount of kit and personal effects.
Did you know...
Canada Post will send your letters to the troops for free at any time and any Military Family Resource Center will send your packages and presents to overseas troops for free at any time. The link included will provide you with a list of Military Family Resource Centers near you. Just click on the link "Search Canada" and locate your province.
http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/dmfs/mfrccontact/index.asp#
If you would like to send Belinda a letter (or any soldier currently serving overseas) that you don't have an address for) contact me and I will pass on Belinda's information and the general Canadian Forces mailing address for sending a letter to fellow troops. Security being the issue that it is now and days, it is not appropriate for me to post the information here but I am prompt to reply to any emails. To send a letter or card to any soldier, you will need their rank and service number and tour rotation -but if you do not know these, not to worry, it is not difficult to tracks these down and if I can be of any help, please just send me a note.
Receiving a letter is the best kind of smile across the miles for any soldier so far from home. Many soldiers do not have family...and it is always a joy to hear from someone who wishes you well.
Tll next time,
Julie
Did you know...
Canada Post will send your letters to the troops for free at any time and any Military Family Resource Center will send your packages and presents to overseas troops for free at any time. The link included will provide you with a list of Military Family Resource Centers near you. Just click on the link "Search Canada" and locate your province.
http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/dmfs/mfrccontact/index.asp#
If you would like to send Belinda a letter (or any soldier currently serving overseas) that you don't have an address for) contact me and I will pass on Belinda's information and the general Canadian Forces mailing address for sending a letter to fellow troops. Security being the issue that it is now and days, it is not appropriate for me to post the information here but I am prompt to reply to any emails. To send a letter or card to any soldier, you will need their rank and service number and tour rotation -but if you do not know these, not to worry, it is not difficult to tracks these down and if I can be of any help, please just send me a note.
Receiving a letter is the best kind of smile across the miles for any soldier so far from home. Many soldiers do not have family...and it is always a joy to hear from someone who wishes you well.
Tll next time,
Julie
Friday, January 18, 2008
Pre-Deployment Parade and BBQ
Pre-Deployment Parade and BBQ
January 17th 2008
Belinda’s Farewell Ceremony and troops BBQ at the base. I was able to finally put faces to so many of the names I heard Belinda speak about over the past year she had been training. It was an honor to meet her closest friends.
I wanted to photograph Belinda and the hundreds of soldiers present, particularly during the national anthem, and found myself next to an elderly veteran on a second story platform overlooking the gym ...found myself very furtive in taking the photograph as I didn’t want the veteran to feel disrespected that I was snapping pictures during such a moment. I wish I had taken a picture of this old veteran as well, looking at him, knowing he was easily in his 80’s...watching his stooped spine stiffen during the National anthem, his trembling salute as he looked down upon the sea of young men and women in uniform...
Another fellow soldier going on this tour, Elton Adams, wrote and performed a song...it is beautiful... absolutely beautiful. The links are posted here, two links are from the actual performance at the pre-deployment BBQ, one is a music video that was compiled by a fellow soldier going on this same tour .... Please check out one of the video links below, well worth listening to- and pass it on!
Till next time,
Julie
The music video version with past and current photographs of Afghanistan ( and a picture of Belinda that appeared in the Edmonton Sun newspaper).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCA0med-zXI&feature=related
I asked Elton to send me the lyrics, thank you Elton ... the lyrics are as follows:
What A Soldier Left Behind
The General say's dig in deep
theres hell coming from the sky
Just one thought to remember
how your family's doing tonight
Johnny say's he loves her
as he closes his eye's
Sara cries for her mother
on the field where she lye's
Chorus
They did it for the nation
so we don't have to hide
so on this cold and lonely evening
you don't have to cry
Waiting by the telephone
their's a scared and worried wife
He said he'd be home soon
just before he kissed his children goodbye
A quiet knock at the front door
and tears came to her eyes
So sad to lose another
her little girl will be in her dreams tonight
Chorus
Before you say goodnight to your loved one's
please keep in mind
The bed you tuck them in is the bed
a soldier left behind
Chorus X2
You don't have to cry X2
We don't have to hide
January 17th 2008
Belinda’s Farewell Ceremony and troops BBQ at the base. I was able to finally put faces to so many of the names I heard Belinda speak about over the past year she had been training. It was an honor to meet her closest friends.
I wanted to photograph Belinda and the hundreds of soldiers present, particularly during the national anthem, and found myself next to an elderly veteran on a second story platform overlooking the gym ...found myself very furtive in taking the photograph as I didn’t want the veteran to feel disrespected that I was snapping pictures during such a moment. I wish I had taken a picture of this old veteran as well, looking at him, knowing he was easily in his 80’s...watching his stooped spine stiffen during the National anthem, his trembling salute as he looked down upon the sea of young men and women in uniform...
Another fellow soldier going on this tour, Elton Adams, wrote and performed a song...it is beautiful... absolutely beautiful. The links are posted here, two links are from the actual performance at the pre-deployment BBQ, one is a music video that was compiled by a fellow soldier going on this same tour .... Please check out one of the video links below, well worth listening to- and pass it on!
Till next time,
Julie
The music video version with past and current photographs of Afghanistan ( and a picture of Belinda that appeared in the Edmonton Sun newspaper).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCA0med-zXI&feature=related
I asked Elton to send me the lyrics, thank you Elton ... the lyrics are as follows:
What A Soldier Left Behind
The General say's dig in deep
theres hell coming from the sky
Just one thought to remember
how your family's doing tonight
Johnny say's he loves her
as he closes his eye's
Sara cries for her mother
on the field where she lye's
Chorus
They did it for the nation
so we don't have to hide
so on this cold and lonely evening
you don't have to cry
Waiting by the telephone
their's a scared and worried wife
He said he'd be home soon
just before he kissed his children goodbye
A quiet knock at the front door
and tears came to her eyes
So sad to lose another
her little girl will be in her dreams tonight
Chorus
Before you say goodnight to your loved one's
please keep in mind
The bed you tuck them in is the bed
a soldier left behind
Chorus X2
You don't have to cry X2
We don't have to hide
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