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...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
An Email from Belinda
[snipped from original email]
I made it here finally. I'm sorry I havent called yet, all the phones are down. We are all pretty choked about that, but what can ya do? Tomorrow, I go out to my PSS. I don't know if I will have phone or internet there, but I will send you letters anyways ok. They might take a while to get there, I will be in touch with you however I can though.
So our 16 hour trip turned into 24. Longest trip of my life. We went from Edmonton to Goose bay, (worse airport ever!) to Germany, which was awesome although I only saw the airport, to CAmp ****** (IT WAS SO HOT THERE!) to Afghanistan. The first time I got any sleep since I seen you last was last night. We are a day ahead of you guys. The time change is hard to get used to for sure. I'm dead tired, but got good sleep last night. It's so cool here!! IT's really pretty beleive it or not, even though it's a desert.
*** , where I am right now, has lots of trees, it does get really dusty, feels a bit like Wainright. The day times are soooo hot, I already have a tan!!! IT makes you lethargic, I drink a couple litres of water a day for sure, you just can't quench your thirst here. But the nights are sooo cold. Only like -6, but after how it is in the day, it feels way worse.
It is good because it gives us a chance to climatize. So like I said, I leave tomorrow, there will be a letter in the mail for you. There isn't much else to report on, and sorry I couldnt send a letter seperatly, we have limited time on the computers so I am typing really fast, so excuse the poor grammar and spelling mistakes haha. Anyway, I will talk to you guys when I can, I am off tomorrow so wish me luck!!! I'm really excited!!!!! I love you all so much, miss you and see you! Kiss the 'poo' dogs for me please! Lots of love, Belinda
Oh and the mess food here is really good, weird eh? Love you!!!! :)
I made it here finally. I'm sorry I havent called yet, all the phones are down. We are all pretty choked about that, but what can ya do? Tomorrow, I go out to my PSS. I don't know if I will have phone or internet there, but I will send you letters anyways ok. They might take a while to get there, I will be in touch with you however I can though.
So our 16 hour trip turned into 24. Longest trip of my life. We went from Edmonton to Goose bay, (worse airport ever!) to Germany, which was awesome although I only saw the airport, to CAmp ****** (IT WAS SO HOT THERE!) to Afghanistan. The first time I got any sleep since I seen you last was last night. We are a day ahead of you guys. The time change is hard to get used to for sure. I'm dead tired, but got good sleep last night. It's so cool here!! IT's really pretty beleive it or not, even though it's a desert.
*** , where I am right now, has lots of trees, it does get really dusty, feels a bit like Wainright. The day times are soooo hot, I already have a tan!!! IT makes you lethargic, I drink a couple litres of water a day for sure, you just can't quench your thirst here. But the nights are sooo cold. Only like -6, but after how it is in the day, it feels way worse.
It is good because it gives us a chance to climatize. So like I said, I leave tomorrow, there will be a letter in the mail for you. There isn't much else to report on, and sorry I couldnt send a letter seperatly, we have limited time on the computers so I am typing really fast, so excuse the poor grammar and spelling mistakes haha. Anyway, I will talk to you guys when I can, I am off tomorrow so wish me luck!!! I'm really excited!!!!! I love you all so much, miss you and see you! Kiss the 'poo' dogs for me please! Lots of love, Belinda
Oh and the mess food here is really good, weird eh? Love you!!!! :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Deployment Day
Deployment day ... February 13, 2008.
It had snowed 10+ centimetres the night before, the roads were a hellish mess and getting to the base was difficult. Once at the drill hall though, we were amongst throngs of family and friends and the soldiers themselves, getting in that last bit of visiting before the troops departed for their flight.
Belinda was in great spirits, excited and anxious to finally be off on her journey...pleased to know she would be stationed at a post with at least one of her closest friends, Durnford. We stood around visiting and were approached by 2 members of the Legion wishing to do a story on Belinda, so she spoke with them and some photos were taken. I will post the results of that interview shortly. :)
There is not alot to say about departure day because it is such an anxious affair ... all of us standing around smiling big smiles, trying to joke and converse, but the ever-present lump in our throat knowing we are minutes away from the departure of someone we love and will miss deeply.
Granparents, spouses, friends, parents, babies, toddlers, siblings ...even leashed pets... people milling about everywhere, or clustered into tight groups...camera flashes, interviews, tv cameras, or in our case...hamming it up with each other doing our family trademark "Gypsy, give me your tears" act...which we tried to teach Troy and Durnford, without a lot of luck... but they tried, lol
Finally the time came for the soldiers to go into a seperate room where they would pick up their remaining kit and board the bus. It was time to say good-bye ... You could have washed that immense drill hall's floor with the tears that flowed. I had promised myself I would remain smiling, but I smiled through wet eyes, sniffles and a cracked voice when we said goodbye. One last hug and kiss, one last picture to hold us over for the months to come till she returns home again.
She was boarding a 16 hour flight... a big airbus that would provide meals every 2 hours... I was glad for that, hoping she would fill up before she faced a lengthy diet of packaged rations. I hoped she would sleep, as I know she had not slept much in the weeks prior so consumed with thoughts of being ready for this journey.
You want to be happy for them ... they have worked so hard this past year to train for this moment. Training had intensified in the recent years, to encompass every possible scenario, to ready the troops for a culture and climate so different from our own. You want to be happy, you want to be supportive - but it is a hard thing to see your child go on a journey that you can never possibly share. In my best possible moments, reading and acquiring every ounce of knowledge I can, I will never know what it is like to be there and have those experiences. I wish I could.
We left the base and drove home in silence. Everyone lost in their thoughts, missing her already.
Now the countdown to homecoming begins... we have a loose target of 215 days which takes us to mid September, though we have been warned that October might be more likely.
She is fit and ready, very well trained... intelligent, strong, intuitive and resourceful...she is willing to take a path less travelled. She is courage and love and humanity personified. I am so very proud of her, we all are.
See you soon Boogies, good luck and god speed... we are all waiting for your return...we love you!
It had snowed 10+ centimetres the night before, the roads were a hellish mess and getting to the base was difficult. Once at the drill hall though, we were amongst throngs of family and friends and the soldiers themselves, getting in that last bit of visiting before the troops departed for their flight.
Belinda was in great spirits, excited and anxious to finally be off on her journey...pleased to know she would be stationed at a post with at least one of her closest friends, Durnford. We stood around visiting and were approached by 2 members of the Legion wishing to do a story on Belinda, so she spoke with them and some photos were taken. I will post the results of that interview shortly. :)
There is not alot to say about departure day because it is such an anxious affair ... all of us standing around smiling big smiles, trying to joke and converse, but the ever-present lump in our throat knowing we are minutes away from the departure of someone we love and will miss deeply.
Granparents, spouses, friends, parents, babies, toddlers, siblings ...even leashed pets... people milling about everywhere, or clustered into tight groups...camera flashes, interviews, tv cameras, or in our case...hamming it up with each other doing our family trademark "Gypsy, give me your tears" act...which we tried to teach Troy and Durnford, without a lot of luck... but they tried, lol
Finally the time came for the soldiers to go into a seperate room where they would pick up their remaining kit and board the bus. It was time to say good-bye ... You could have washed that immense drill hall's floor with the tears that flowed. I had promised myself I would remain smiling, but I smiled through wet eyes, sniffles and a cracked voice when we said goodbye. One last hug and kiss, one last picture to hold us over for the months to come till she returns home again.
She was boarding a 16 hour flight... a big airbus that would provide meals every 2 hours... I was glad for that, hoping she would fill up before she faced a lengthy diet of packaged rations. I hoped she would sleep, as I know she had not slept much in the weeks prior so consumed with thoughts of being ready for this journey.
You want to be happy for them ... they have worked so hard this past year to train for this moment. Training had intensified in the recent years, to encompass every possible scenario, to ready the troops for a culture and climate so different from our own. You want to be happy, you want to be supportive - but it is a hard thing to see your child go on a journey that you can never possibly share. In my best possible moments, reading and acquiring every ounce of knowledge I can, I will never know what it is like to be there and have those experiences. I wish I could.
We left the base and drove home in silence. Everyone lost in their thoughts, missing her already.
Now the countdown to homecoming begins... we have a loose target of 215 days which takes us to mid September, though we have been warned that October might be more likely.
She is fit and ready, very well trained... intelligent, strong, intuitive and resourceful...she is willing to take a path less travelled. She is courage and love and humanity personified. I am so very proud of her, we all are.
See you soon Boogies, good luck and god speed... we are all waiting for your return...we love you!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Night Before ...
Belinda leaves tomorrow morning in the late A.M.... we did a 'favorite foods' theme for supper as it'll be a few months before she gets to eat something other than army rations! Supper consisted of 2 styles of pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken w/fries and gravy, popcorn shrimp, home-made cream of mushroom soup, chocolate milk, 'triple threat' chocolate ice cream and strawberry daquiri's... A strange menu, but like I said, "favorites"!
We are over-full from eating so much but Belinda says she is "Rocking out!" :-D
She is excited about her travels tomorrow, ready to just 'get on with it already!'... A full year of intense training, she is ready to put her skills to work. She is especially excited to see and experience a new culture ...Her 8000 lbs of kit and toiletries are packed... (8ooo lbs would not be much of an exageration either...lol) She is comfy on the couch right now writing a few last-minute emails and loading music onto her ipod. A peaceful night...
We are over-full from eating so much but Belinda says she is "Rocking out!" :-D
She is excited about her travels tomorrow, ready to just 'get on with it already!'... A full year of intense training, she is ready to put her skills to work. She is especially excited to see and experience a new culture ...Her 8000 lbs of kit and toiletries are packed... (8ooo lbs would not be much of an exageration either...lol) She is comfy on the couch right now writing a few last-minute emails and loading music onto her ipod. A peaceful night...
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
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