Beep. Beep. Beep. The annoying sound of the alarm snaps me back to the real world. The clock reads 6:30. I roll over in my bed and tap the snooze button. I shut my eyes just for an instant, gathering myself. I take a moment in the stillness of the morning to prioritize what I am to do today. After a short time, I sluggishly make my way out of bed. I put my slippers on and make my way to the window. I look outside and see that the sun is out and the birds are chirping happily. I open the window and then put my hands up on my head. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, taking in the fresh air that was created from the evening rain. I make my way to the shower. The warmth of the shower relaxes me, making me want to jump back into bed. I get out, grab a towel and go directly to shaving. After I complete my hygiene routine, I make my way to the kitchen. I open the refrigerator, grab the orange juice, and grab the bowl of cold cereal that I had poured the previous night. I walk to the table and set it down. I walk to the front door and open it. There on the ground lies the paper. I pick it up and bring it over to the table. I sit down, open the paper and start to read — nothing good of course. As I read, I pick at my cold cereal and take sips of my orange juice. After some time, I finish and make my way back to my room where my clothes are laid out for the day. I get dressed and then tidy up around the house before I leave.
Before I leave I take a look in the mirror to make sure that I look halfway presentable and then make my way to the front door. I grab the school bag that is by the front door and then shuffle out. I lock the door and make my way to the car. I start the car, let it run for a little and then make my way out to the real world. I drive down the road and come to a red light; I count to 27 — no less, no more. It turns green. I continue to drive. I turn on the radio and listen to talk radio. I come to an intersection where I see a guy with a sign reading, “I will work for food.” I wave at him to come over to the car. He makes his way to the car. I roll down the window. “Hey there, Jerry, how’s it going?” Jerry looks at me with his sad I eyes. “Not so good, Dave.” I lean over and grab the help wanted paper, in which I stuffed three dollars, and I hand it to him. “Jerry, here you go.” He looks at me and smiles. “Dave, you’re a good man.” As I roll up the window, I smile. “Only to you, my friend, others think otherwise.” I make my way down the road. As I come by the junior high school, I look to the left instinctively. The cops are there, of course, waiting for the first person to go 26 miles per hour in a 25. I honk and wave. They snarl and flicker their lights.
I finally make my way to college. I drive into the parking lot and go to my favorite parking spot in the west corner, near a tree that has some cool birds that I regularly feed before class. I get out of the car, lock it, turn around, and make my way to class. As I walk to class, I see the same people I have seen every day for the last two years. Mary and Jacob stand in the hall holding hands, hugging and kissing as if in two hours they won’t see each other. As I walk up the stairs and make my way in the door, I turn and look to my left by the water fountain, and yes, there in the corner is Jamie putting on her makeup and doing what girls do. I finally make my way to my class, but before I open the door I look down at my watch. Anytime now. I look up and like clockwork the hottest teacher in school comes out of her room. She makes her way down the hall and grabs a coffee and then strolls back. It’s like watching “Baywatch” with Pamela running down the beach in slow motion. I look at my watch. I have three minutes before class starts. She looks down the hall and waves, “Hey, Billy, how’s it going?” I respond in an insinuating manner, “Doing great, just getting to class like a good boy.” She smiles and turns red and then tosses her black stallion hair back. Then she swiftly disappears like a goddess. She has called me Billy for two years, and that is just fine.
I get to class and take my seat. The professor greets me. “Mr. Hardt, glad you could grace us with your presence this morning.” I smile and open my textbook. The class laughs. I answer, “Sir, you can never say that I am late.” The professor looks at me and huffs. “Mr. Hardt, you do have it down to an art.” The professor starts his lecture on some great philosopher who lived many moons ago. I glance around the room bored to death. The same people I have seen forever and nothing has changed. The young girl in the front seat who annoyingly asks too many questions. The young lady in the back who chews gum like a baseball pitcher in distress. Then you have the self-conscious cheerleader up front right next to the door, making a great escape whenever her overprotective boyfriend calls. Besides that she’s worrying about what she looks like. If she only knew that having brains was a plus in the real world. Then you have Billy, the student-athlete, more athlete, who sits in the back with his buddies either half asleep getting that well deserved C+ as well as interrupting the class with stupid remarks. Then there’s the clock that annoyingly ticks and makes you aware that there’s one more hour left. Then there’s me, gazing out the window in, wondering, “Is every day going to be ground hog’s day?”
Years later …
Beep. Beep. Beep. I roll over in my bed and glance at the red clock. “Oh man, it’s too early for this.” I roll back over, close my eyes and start to go through the things that I’d rather be doing besides getting up this early. I make my way out of bed. I look down and jump in my slippers. I make my way to the bathroom and conduct my hygiene routine. I then make my way back to the room where everyone is going through their morning routines. I start to prep my gear and then lay it out in the hall, getting it out of the way from the other three guys in the room. I sit on the bed and get on the Net, looking for any breaking news. Of course there’s no good news. I look at my watch; I have 10 minutes to get to the trucks for prepping. I walk out into the hall. I look down at my kit and think about how uncomfortable it is. Well, since my kit is not going to put itself on I bend down and slowly put it on. The weight presses down on my shoulders. I make my way to the truck. As usual, we start to prep the truck getting what is necessary for the mission and that is a lot of water and ice. After we complete that task we have some time to relax. I take a seat on the ground and just close my eyes and try to think happy thoughts. After about 10 minutes, Staff Sgt. Rine gives us the plan. We load up in the truck and raise the ramp.
We make our way out the gate, and the troop compartment is completely quiet, leaving the sound of the truck’s engine and the radio blaring. After some time we come to a stop, and then Staff Sgt. Rine gives us the direction in which we are to exit. The ramp slowly drops, and we dismount into the streets of unpredictability. We make our way to the eight-story high-rise building and get in position. After some time, we get the word and make our way to the building. On the way you see some of the same people from the previous days, and you have to wonder if these are just weirdoes following you. You get to the building and start your clearing. Search, search and more searching and we move on. This continues until we reach the top. After we finish, we make our way back to the trucks and then to the FOB. We enter the FOB. We jump out and make our way to our rooms, take off our kits, and change into some dry clothes. I go to my computer and check my e-mail, responding if needed. After an hour or so of relaxing, I get my PT gear on and go to the gym or go running around the FOB. Once I conclude with that, I come back, do the hygiene thing and then jump on my computer to look at the news. I read a little and then take some NyQuil, because regardless of how tired I am, I can’t sleep. It’s been that way since I came home from my last tour. So after that I rack out.
Seems rather boring and lifeless; well, it is. The next day is ground hog’s day all over again. Welcome to my world.
I wish You could have a good morning here in USA. You are missed so mush and yet you make us look at our selves and say what are we crying about, Why are we getting up set with that guy in front of us. You are in the real world. We are just waiting for the day you come off that plane to our smiles and love to complete a real good day. Your our Hero
Posted by: jkelly | 01 June 2007 at 14:44
I wish You could have a good morning here in USA. You are missed so mush and yet you make us look at our selves and say what are we crying about, Why are we getting up set with that guy in front of us. You are in the real world. We are just waiting for the day you come off that plane to our smiles and love to complete a real good day. Your our Hero
Posted by: jkelly | 01 June 2007 at 14:44
We have it so easy and yet we get mad at the guy in front of us we are never happy. Ithink about you every day and if I hear any onecomplain I ask if they would like to take a trip they say ya ok. I will then say get on a plane and go to Iraq no more is said and they leave. Wouldn't that be nice . Thank you. Jkelly
Posted by: jkelly | 01 June 2007 at 14:52
I wish You could have a good morning here in USA. You are missed so mush and yet you make us look at our selves and say what are we crying about, Why are we getting up set with that guy in front of us. You are in the real world. We are just waiting for the day you come off that plane to our smiles and love to complete a real good day. Your our Hero
Posted by: jkelly | 01 June 2007 at 15:02
Dear David) My name is Gale Poindexter and I am the mom of Sgt Joel Lewis who was part of the 3-2 5/20 and killed in Baquabah on May 6th with 5 other brave soldiers and the Russian reporter. I pray that you come home safe and in one piece. Your blog ( which I read all the time) reminds me of Joel's thoughts as well - the mundane and repetitiveness of it all for you guys. In spite of the lousy news coverage, most Americans support and love you guys very much. There are a lot of people praying for you guys to come home safe and sound. Keep the faith and thanks for keeping us in YOUR WORLD- we must never forget.
Posted by: Tulsaok1nurse | 02 June 2007 at 05:40