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Thursday, May 03, 2007

For the blog...

I know I owe an entry or at least 5 but...
The one thing more constant than change around here is a lack of time to adapt to it. Today I started a new position because my boss just finished his tour and rotated out. The weirdest thing I said all day is "I am PA for..." rather than my typical "I am Deputy PA for..." I've said Farewell to a lot of friends lately - 3 in the past week alone. Some day it will be my turn to roll out and I wondered what that looks like. So since I no longer have a life outside of my work I asked a close friend for support. I asked him to write me an entry on his perspective on being home. I give you Mr. BUA...


Back to the life I once knew
When Hollywood asked me to write an entry about being back, I must admit that I was not excited to do it. This is odd since I normally enjoy a chance to let the world know that they should rebel against the corporate, soulless, marketing drivel sold to the lowest common denominator at the highest profit. But I also knew that I would have to be sincere and I am not so certain I can do that.

Seeing the family again was great. It took a week in Kuwait and a week in Norfolk, but when I finally was released back into the wild I had the pleasure of seeing my wife and kids at the airport. When you are an individual augmentee, you don't get the big welcome home celebrations that you might see units receiving, but it is probably more personal since it is just you and your loved ones. My four-year-old son ran to me immediately and tried to tell me everything that has happened to him over the last year. My two-year-old daughter was a little more shy but eventually came over to me. She has grown so much, especially her hair. Mrs. Bua wanted to be the first to greet me, but knew the kids would have knocked her over if she got in the way. While I was gone my son took over as the man of the house. While he misses me, he doesn't want to give up the job. My daughter is now twice the princess she was before - which should make all of you soulless, Hollywood, corporate-marketing types happy because she will buy many things when she grows up.

People thank me for what I did. I feel odd about this and usually just shake my head and smile. I was a PowerPoint ranger at the embassy, not a Soldier in the street. People ask me if I am having trouble adjusting. I don't think I am. Loud noises do not remind me of explosions. I don't think my life is in danger of VBIED's on the beltway - but I do fear for my life because DC people drive like lunatics. The only thing I can say is that... well, I find life dull now. Not the wife or kids - they are always lively - but overall, life just lacks the sense of importance it had over there. And that leads me to my final two thoughts. The first is that we, as Americans, waste a vast amount of our time worrying about stuff that just is not all that important.

The second is born from the second most asked question (behind 'how are you adjusting'): what do you think we (America) should do over there? I have come to the conclusion that collectively, we as Americans do not get Iraq. We are woefully uneducated about what is happening, and we are not going to get smarter any time soon (the media is a capitalistic venture and there isn't profit in educational newscasts, so the best you will get is the explosion of the day). However, Iraq is such a complex place that even I find that my own mind changes as to what should be done. People ask me the question and I see the same look that they probably would love to give to our political leaders - it is a look of desperate need for someone to provide a real answer to a problem that has no clear solution. To people who tell me that we should pull out right away, I usually explain the dire results that could happen if we do. For the people who think we should stay the course, I spend most of the time explaining the shortfalls of the situation and my concerns about this current course. To those who think we should divide the country up, I explain how that would probably lead to more bloodshed. And when I am done people are disappointed with me because I did not spoon feed them an easy solution. After a while, people stop asking me about Iraq.

I was in a horrible place with some wonderful people, and I miss those people in ways I did not realize I would. Now I am with all of you not knowing how close an attack might be to those friends because the media shouldn't report it. I am wishing them all well and hope that you readers get your Hollywood back safely. So that is the last entry of Mr Bua. Far too long and definitely not light or pithy.

Take care and keep safe
Mr. BUA