Location Joke

I'm sure you all know what a "Location Joke" is - it's a joke where you had to be there to find the humor. I'm afraid this post is going to be a location joke, but perhaps you'll indulge me.

Today is my birthday. All in all, a good day by most measures even though I wasn't at home hearing Happy Birthday being sung intentionally off key (one of our family traditions). The day was pleasantly cool and clear, I received lots of packages and mail from home, and the folks around the headquarters even got me a card. During my run this afternoon I set my best time over my 3.5 mile course since being in Baghdad. Finally, even though I normally only eat desserts on Friday I had a slice of cheese cake after lunch and took two white chocolate chip cookies to go after dinner.

During the walk home, just after we'd (my Chief, my Army captain, and I - the EWOs for my unit) left the DFAC we heard the hated sound, "GONG, GONG, GONG - INCOMING! INCOMING! INCOMING!" That is the alert system that warns of an indirect fire attack (mortars or rockets). Well, we weren't near a concrete bunker so we found the closest shelter available - the big DFAC trash dumpsters and squatted down between them, listening for the booms. I had about half a cookie left to eat, and as I was taking a bite I said, "It sure would suck to get blown up on my birthday squatting down by the trash cans." My Chief looked over at me, I looked at him, and we simultaneously started laughing. The captain is relatively new to Iraq and she certainly didn't find anything humorous, but Chief and I just laughed and laughed. Perhaps you had to be there or even if you were there, perhaps you just need to find something to laugh about whenever you can over here. Or perhaps Chief and I have a warped sense of humor. Take your pick.

A minute or so later, after nothing but silence, the "All Clear" sounded and we walked back home. We didn't hear any explosions so I hope it was just a false alarm, but regardless, I certainly found a unique way to celebrate my big day!

That's all for today from the Garden of Eden.

Cheers, Pearl