For all of you who have chastised me in person for not having posted to my blog in over a month, my sincerest of appologies. Never figured I had anything that worthy of being read to cause the playful jibeing I've been getting for not having continued to proliferate my blatherings...
I've been home now for 3 weeks on a combination of an R&R and Emergency leave. My mother, who lives in Phoenix with her husband Burt had been experiencing heart issues that finally took her to the emergency room and subsquently to surgery to correct. With her advanced age - it was decided instantly to leave Afghanistan and get home, but not only to be there for her, but to be with my family as well. Mom's procedure went well, and she's now home with her doting husband, taking care of him as well. They are actually kind of cute to watch together. I'm really happy for them that they have each other to take care of.
Karen and the boys met me in Phoenix, and all 6 of my brothers were there as well - so this served as an impromptu family reunion of sorts. It was wonderful to see everyone and to get reacquainted.
After spending a week in Phoenix - I've been home in Denver for the past 2 weeks - having an R&R of sorts - not what we as a family planned - but making lemonade out of the lemons we were served. The past 3 nights - Karen and I spent downtown in a fancy hotel - having couple time, and last night the boys joined us in their own room - amidst a huge spring blizzard. It was a winter wonderland - downtown. Picture perfect.
Tonight we are spending our last evening at home together before I return to Afghanistan watching the movie "The Blind Side", for which Sandra Bullock earned an Oscar for her performance. Wonderful Movie....
During intermission - I took Jonah upstairs to get PJ's on, and get ready to go down when we were ready. After we had him all dressed - he stood up - and said - "Dad, I have a Serious Problem" after which he proptly swung around, dropped his pants bent over and started pointing at his behind......"this thing has got to go......" He was pointing at his right butt cheek at the time....and I couldn't see for the life of me what was bugging him. So I asked....and he responded - "that black dot....." I started laughing.... you see, Jonah has a birthmark on his left but cheek - an almost perfect little black dot, that you can't mistake anywhere. It was just one of those moments that I knew if I didn't write about immediately - it would be lost to the ethos forever.
We celebrated Jonah's fifth birthday last night at the Cheesecake Factory downtown - he thinks he's five now - and that's ok....even though it isn't for a few weeks.
I'm sure going to miss my wonderful kids and beautiful wife. This has been wonderful, though unexpected and unplanned.
