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A GOOD YEAR
The great folks over at Doonesbury's Sandbox milblog have created an anthology featuring many of the contributors to the site. It is due for publication in August. It's called "The Sandbox: Dispatches from Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." The introduction is written by Gary Trudeau himself, Doonesbury's creator. Please take a minute to check out my Memorial Day post on The Sandbox.
And here are some various links and updates -
Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" issue. Power to the People article.
On NPR reading "Fire in the Night"
2006 Writer's Blog Anthology - contributor
The Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan - contributor
Naked Tales: Stories by Writers Who Blog - contributor
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2007 is proving to be a very good year. Life continues to amaze me. I remember missing my daughter's Kindergarten year because I was deployed. Well, this is the last week of 1st grade and I didn't miss a day.
We went camping over Memorial Day weekend near a place called Mirror Lake. Inspirational is the best word the dictionary offers to desribe this area of the country. And it's the best word I have to offer as well.
In Iraq I constantly thought and wrote about staying positive and rising above all the hardship and tragedy life had thrown my way. I meant every word of it, but I was also trying to convice myself by writing it down. Now I am more convinced. I said I would laugh in the face of life's adversities, and this year I have. I've taken a persistent momentum towards depression and anger, and spun it around on itself. This year, thus far, has been the most productive, inspiring, insanely busy, and joyful one I can remember. And it's not even halfway over.
I don't know about you, but I daydream about daydreams. I taste my future as I see it. And I grow anxious with anticipation. I know what the picture of my future looks like. It's still a somewhat abstract work - brush strokes framing the primary themes, the color pallette evolving. Now comes the joy of the details.
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Henry David Thoreau
Captain K,
I followed your writing while you were deployed; the strength, questioning,
hardships, bonds, courage and challenges. When you were struggling in so
many areas, especially your concerns for your marriage and children, you
showed many of us how to deal with adversity with honor and commitment.
Your positive outlook and sense of purpose also show us how we can set a
course for the future with optimism. As you often use quotes to lead you
and bind you to a thought, your writings can lead us to renew our sense of
commitment and resolve. I am so glad you are able to be with your children
and show them what being a father is all about. You truly are an
inspiration!! As the Marines would say, "OOH-RAH Captain K!"
"Oh what a difference a year can make" could never have proved more true!
Your experiences while deployed, both professionally as a soldier and
personally, were among the most compelling I have ever read. This past
year has seen the stress and anguish all become a part of the past, to be
remembered and reflected upon, yes, but as something that is over.
CaptK....I've read thru your posts. They are absolutely wonderful. Your
positive outlook has inspired me. I can't help but to think of all the
people coming home suffering from depression and PTSS. Could you reach
out to them and help them adjust? You could help so many people thru your
words.