1st Lt Prifogle’s Blog

Things That I Miss (and unfortunately cannot be sent through the mail).

1. The sound of a child’s voice, their laugh, the eternal hope in their eyes.
2. Human contact other then a handshake – a hug, a kiss,
3. Lazy Sunday afternoons.
4. Naps in the sun by the pool.
5. Driving my Bug (I almost miss traffic, but I still hate LA).
6. The Ocean.  God I miss the ocean.
7. Cell phone and my usual suspects to call in a day– Megan, Deb, Jill, Tonya, Mom.
8. Guinness.
9. The Ould Sod.
10. Karaoke with Alex.
11. Shopping (and if you know me you know I hate shopping).
12. Going to the grocery store.
13. Cooking (or at least having the option to cook – that might be a better way to put it.)
14. Being only a plane ride away from home if something happens.
15. Being able to plan trips I’ll never take, but really believe I’m going to go if only for a minute.
16. Bitching about the price of gas, but being grateful for a car and money to buy gas.
17. Wearing make-up, leaving my hair down and feeling like a woman).
18. My favorite pair of jeans (okay this one might be able to be mailed out, but I have no idea where I stored them!)

***

Greetings from the Desert!  I know I haven’t been updating this, so I’m sorry if you’ve been worrying about me or waiting for a post.  Life here has been busy and the internet in my room has been down for about two weeks (I can’t get on my blog from my work computer).  I’ve been doing okay.  Getting used to life out here and doing a lot of physical training when I’m not working.  My running partner has almost convinced me to run Ironman New Zealand in 2 years.  Right now I’m shooting for another marathon in October.  I’d like to get a time that qualifies me for the 2009 Boston Marathon (the 2008 qualifying time for my age group is 3 hrs 40 min – I can do it!). We’re training for a ½ marathon my XO is running in May.  If you’re a runner you know that running is as addictive as any drug and out here you have to have something positive to work for or you will lose your mind in the daily grind.

Work has been busy.  I’ve made friends within most of the squadrons we support and now squadrons are starting to come and go; so the last few weeks have been full of goodbyes and hellos.  Life does that – brings someone to your life for a minute and then takes them away.  I believe everyone is part of your life for a reason; maybe it is me that is in their life for a reason.  Either way, they’re here and gone in an instant.  It’s not normal goodbyes out here.  I’m so happy that they are going home safe and sound that it’s not like saying goodbye at all.  Part of being in the military is getting used to making friends fast and saying goodbye even faster.  I hope each one of them makes it home to find their loved ones well and then make their way to tropical beaches with beautiful sunsets and tropical drinks with umbrellas because they deserve it.  It’s always been hard for me to say goodbyes.  No matter how used to coming or going I am.  Goodbye’s are markers that time is passing and passing quickly.

I think its funny how life can take you just about anywhere and you can get used to it.  I already have some good (and bad) habits.  (The bad being mostly chocolate – please don’t send me any it’s my weakness!!).  I lift weights every morning and I’m starting to see muscles develop that I didn’t know I had.  I’ve been running at least 3 or 4 times a week and gradually adding more mileage and more runs.  I get up at 4 or 4:30 every morning to read or write.  My Marines don’t come in until 8.  It seems early, but it’s nice to have some time alone.

I haven’t been able to go on any more missions outside the wire, but I’m working on it.  I am trying to digest the things I saw and the things we did and write it all down without putting our OPSEC (Operational Security) at risk.  I will post more essays soon.

In the meantime take this away from my trip - Go hug your child, a niece or nephew, a neighbor.  Go look into their eyes and appreciate the beauty, the hope and innocence; those things that are universal to children.  Even in a country at war the children are the most beautiful people I’ve seen.  Their laughter is the most fulfilling sound I’ve heard since I’ve been in country.  Try to live 6 months without a child’s giggle or joy out of playing a game of high five – it’s miserable.  This is what I miss the most and you can’t put that in a box and mail it out (well, you can but make sure you give them lots of water and granola bars to snack on).  So, because I can’t, go hug a child that has enriched your life.  Let them know how special they are and that I fight for them.

On days that I doubt the good I’m doing here or the fight I’m fighting I remember my babies (Becca, Teed, Paige, Olivia, Ian and Malcolm).  I remember the children I met in Rawah.  I remember I’m fighting for their freedom.  I’m fighting for their opportunities to make this world a better place – hopefully one without war and poverty.  That’s what keeps my spirits up on days I really see no point or end to all this.

My Marines are doing well.  They keep my morale up when I’m having a bad day and I try to keep theirs up if they look down.  We are physically separated from the rest of our unit.  We live and work in a little compound known as Rock Ridge and because of our isolation we’ve become a little family down here.  The Marines know each other’s button’s to push or when someone needs to get out of the office for a few minutes.  Their best skill is knowing when to answer my phone; “Sorry, she’s not in right now, can I take a message?”

Finally, I’ve made a deal with my lifting partner.  I told him I was going to send at least one letter every single day (we walk by the post office on the way to the gym).  In the last week I’ve done it, but I only have the address of my family and a few friends back in San Diego.  I guess I figured I’d email more, but the internet is a pain.  I’m running out of things to write them so if you want to be part of this please send your address to Lisbeth_Prifogle@yahoo.com (or a note in the mail).  I’m not doing this to receive mail back (although mail is always a morale booster).  I’m doing this as a practice in self discipline, a practice in writing and most importantly because we have forgotten the art of hand writing letters to old friends.  What is a better addition to our busy day then sitting down with a cup of coffee and reading (or writing) a note from someone who is thinking about you?  To me reading or writing a letter is as good as sitting down and having a cup of coffee with that friend.  If you can’t physically be with that person you can be there in spirit.  Plus, you cannot be interrupted in a letter! So you can babble on about whatever you want for however long you want!  Oh I’m also doing this to improve my hand writing skills – right now I think I could fool the FBI with my ever changing scribbles (seriously, you’ll see – in one letter it looks like at least 4 people have taken turns writing it).

That’s the most current update with me.  Hope this finds everyone in good spirits and good health.  Happy St. Patty’s day!  Make sure you have a Guinness for me and Cheers – to Life!  And all the wonderful and strange places it takes you and people you have and will meet.

Love,
Libby

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