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2007
I spent last year in the desert, but this year I begin in the snowy mountain framed valley of Salt Lake. I spent the first six months of last year amidst the chaos and ironic monotony of war. I can still hear the prayers coming over loudspeakers, the distinct sound of artillery fire, whether it is incoming our outgoing, the darkness of the desert sky at night. I spent the last six months pondering the first, and reacquainting myself with the life I want to be living. And now I can sit here in the comfort of my own home, my two kids and my future asleep upstairs under glow-in-the-dark solar systems, flanked by super heroes and princesses on glossy posters. And I can smile at the prospect of tomorrow.
I find that war certainly made me appreciate life all the more. War made me more alert, more grateful, more driven, and more humble. In a way I am now part of those paintings of soldiers hanging in the hallways of libraries on military bases, in the VA hospitals, in military museums and government buildings. I am indeed one of those men who are captured for a moment, out of their role as son, lover, father, or friend - caught up, for better or worse, and with his own fluctuating levels of dedication and fear, as a soldier in the drama of war.
We meet in web 2.0, here in cyberspace. We have been communicating, over the course of the last two years, from all across this planet - across vast bodies of water which if you imagine yourself on a small raft in the middle of one in the middle of the night you may find yourself over come with vertigo at the vastness of the sky, the isolation, the silence. Messages in bottles, these, and the bottles are blue electric.
I do hope you continue to visit this blog for new material and updates, so that we can continue this relationship we have, the two of us, writer and reader. I have reached a personal milestone. Being represented by an agent changes my writing priorities, and I will be diligent. I find myself standing right on the cusp of my life, like a new NFL player who visits the stadium hours before the game, when it's quiet, and his only company is the shadow of his own self-consciousness.
You might notice a little less activity here on Wordsmith At War, but then again you might just see more of me on the bookshelf of your local Barnes and Noble. I cast my best wishes for 2007 out into the ether of this technological time of ours, this bright electric and shrinking world - hoping they find you.
Thank you, as always, for reading.
Captain K
"To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life." Samuel Johnson
Whoo hoo! I'm so glad to hear you found an agent!! 2007 is looking pretty
good for ya Cappy!
Glad to hear you are doing well. Amazing how spending time in Iraq or
other similar crucibles can give us a better sense of priorities and
appreciation for formerly "minor" things. I'll enjoy your future
endeavors, too; keep them coming.
Thank you for the update. Good luck with the book; I look forward to
reading it. Enjoy your everyday life with your children.
Lee! An agent!? How fantastic! I'm so glad to have gotten to "know" you via
cyberspace--I'm happy I reached out and dropped you a line last spring.
Your writing is inspirational. Hope to meet you in realspace sometime....
01/12/07
Saw you on the news, good stuff here, keep it up!
Captain K, your blog has brought both the uncertainty and dread of war
along with the longing for your children, the tragedy of comrades lost, the
joy of reunion. It has been a privilege to be given an insight into war
and its cost by such an eloquent writer. You are blessed to recognize the
gift of your children and they are equally blessed to have you home. I look
forward to reading more.
Awesome post Dude . . . You are an inspiraton to everyone out there who has
or will overcome so much in a short period of time. We look to you for
inspiration so let us all know how you are doing every once in a while and
provide a schedule of where your book signing events will be. We'll be
there.
Lee,keep up the good work,you are going to go places in this world .We will
keep on reading your blog,and hope to see you again.When you come to Boise
to sign your book we'll be there,and will have a place for you to
stay.Thank you for being such a wonderful Father to Cloe and little
Lee.Love Mark and Norma.
Happy New Year, Capt K. God's best of everything is wished for you. Can't
wait to get your book.
Hi Capt. Lee, I am Rachelle Marie Dangin, a 2nd year Mass Communication
student from the University of the Philippines. I came to know about your
blog through the Power to the People article featured in Time Magazine.
Cpt. K - I try to come back to the site periodically to keep up on how you
are doing. Best of luck with the book. I know Mike wanted to write when
he came home and I go back to his "Ramadi Dispatch" often to read his
words. Hope you and your family have a beautiful and prosperous New Year.
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank
you for your comment.