The World According To Chris Brewer

The photo sums up what it’s like at work every day. The monotony of it all is wearing on me. Three months here, three to go. I can’t wait to board my flight out of here in late April, much less get back to Langley and share some funny stories of what went on here. Technically today is my halfway point, but I might leave earlier than the 179 days because SSgt Leake was telling me about some policy that says we have to be back to our home station on or earlier than the 179th day. So maybe today is actually just a little bit past the halfway point…which means the good things in my life are finally starting to take shape. I get out of here in late April, I am free from the military in November, and I move to Missouri right after I separate from the Air Force.

This morning twas pretty scary. Let’s just say someone decided to shoot a few mortars at us. I don’t think anyone was hurt, but when I walked out to the bus stop this morning the cops were having a heck of a time clearing the area. What made the incident so scary is that a couple of the mortar rounds were still laying around somewhere unexploded, which basically means anything could probably set them off. Or they could be duds. Who knows. With mortars, you never really know.

Mortar fire is the reality check for each of us…each round that falls says “Wake up everybody, you’re still in a war zone.” I (and a lot of folks) tend to forget that we’re in such a dangerous place with the compound being as protected as it is. I thank God for his protection, but at the same time I dare not forget that I am serving in the most dangerous city in the world. I must stay alert.

I ran into someone I knew from my time at Lajes Field on Tuesday. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow. For now, I gotta run so God bless and be peaceful.