1 month down

Howdy all, sorry for the delay. Having trouble getting pictures up. Its been another interesting one. Working on projects in the wood shop of course, more additions to Battle Field Furniture. Catalog comming soon. Seeing patients and traveling outside the wire. I was picked to go to see an ANA soldier who had been hurt in an explosion a while back. We got to travel around town to get there. We ended up in what can only be called a suburb of Kabul. We pulled in with our viehicles and set up a security zone. The turp, commander and I got to go into his house and visit with him. It was a little creepy at first, but he was very nice and had his children serve us tea and some snacks. We talked to him for about and hour and a half about life and his injuries. He needs more treatment and we are working through the ANA to get him some. By the way ANA= Afghan National Army. By the time we were done we went back outside and the whole village was there it seems. Dozens of kids playing and getting candy from the security soldiers. I got out my camera and was almost mugged by the kids. They love to have there pics taken, and really enjoy seeing them right afterwards. One grandfather even dressed up his little grandson so he would look good in the pictures. He brought him over to me for a pic. He is a very cute kid. Along with us we had reporters from Salem and Astoria. They took a lot of pics and asked questions too. The Salem lady later gave me some of her pics of the day too. If the server for pics reloads I'll post some. I think I was in the Salem Statesman on Saturday under scenes from Bagram. Boy, if only Bend would think of something like that. Or maybe have someone here write a little for them, (what do you think Steve)?
After all of that we got back in the trucks and drove back towards base. It was very interesting to see the city at work. The streets can be very crowded with people and traffic. You can see open air butcher and grocery shops, rug shops and all sorts of industrial places. Anyone with a tire pump or air compressor is very much in demand as well. On the way back the reporters had to stop and have their passports stamped, I wish I had brought mine that day and get a stamp. It was dinner time about then and the commander said we were to stop and have Tai food, who was I to argue with him.
A couple of days later I got to help at a med cap. This is where we go out to a remote site and set up tents and try to treat people, somewhat helpful, somewhat being a good neighbor. Most of the kids just want to be strong, so Flintstones for them. This one was done with the ANA out near the old king's and Queen's palaces. Got to ride in the back of a 5 ton truck and let me tell you there is not more than 150m of smoothly paved road in a row in this country. Approaching the site as we passed the palaces we passed through an old bone yard filled with rusting Solviet tanks, helos, and armored personell carriers. It was weird to see all the stuff I've only seen in books before. Got out there and we were far enough away from the city to be out of the smog and burning rubber stench. The mountains were wonderful and view amazing. Got up on the roof top of a school with the snipers, and got a great view of the valley and surroundings. Very odd to see up armored humvees out in a field with goats and sheep grazing right next to it.
We saw 1900 people that day! I had 5 Afghan Dr.'s in my tent along with an airforce medic. I'm still not sure if the Afghan Dr.'s touched a single patient. Two people had seizures in the tent just to make it interesting. It was like being in the 50's. The Afghan medics and Dr's just wanted to restrain him and kept asking me to put something in his mouth. I am hoping that through the turp we taught them something about treatment and handling of seizures that day. Part of the reason for this med cap was to teach them and to have the people come to rely on their physicians. I will tell you it is going to take a long time.
One bright spot was the Dr. who is beginning the countries preventive medicine program. He seems young and eager to begin his task. I picked up some of his handouts to look at. Can't read them but looking at the pics they are working on the basics like cooking food throughly enough and washing there hands and the food before cooking.
I got out of the tent to run errands and check out the place. The otherside of the building was a sea of blue. All the women in their blue burkas. An amazing site. Found out this area is blue and in other areas the burkas are different colors. Still hoping to get out and see some more of the country.
Easter was pretty cool here. The chow hall was decorated to the hills. Sunrise service was very nice. It was held outside in the cool morning air. Some of the soldiers and sailors on base sang as a choir. The message was relevent. Not much time to rest after that, patients come in all the time.
The weather here is getting warmer, but still cool in the evenings. It will be getting hot soon I hear.
Will attempt to send pics as soon as possible. Just waiting for the machine to let me.
Thanks for all your support
Mike