Have you ever had one of “those” days? You know the kind I am talking about. That dark and miserable day when for no good reason, life just does you wrong. Maybe you overslept or you forgot about a project at work. Maybe your child clambered into your room at two in the morning begging to sleep next to you and then promptly wet the bed. I have good news for you, you are not alone. Do you remember Alexander? He is the main character from Judith Viorst’s book Alexander and The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day.
From the moment Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, things just don't go his way. As he climbs out of bed he trips on his skateboard. At breakfast his brothers discover toys in their cereal boxes, while Alexander finds nothing. He doesn't get to sit by the window on the way to school, his teacher doesn't like his drawing and he is deserted by his best friend during lunch. Later he finds out that he has a cavity and then he has to eat lima beans for dinner. For poor Alexander, life just continues downhill. His bath water is too hot, he gets soap in his eyes, and his pet cat goes and sleeps in his brother’s room. Can you relate? How are you and Alexander supposed to deal with the stress of days like these?
On behalf of those serving in the United States military, we want you to know that we understand. Indeed, sometimes life can be harsh. I think it is fair to say that sooner or later everyone has one of those bad days. Officially, there is a scientific term for this phenomena, it is called “life.”
It has been suggested that the soldiers serving in Afghanistan could well have the inside track on this “bad day” thing. Perhaps we can make your day just a bit brighter by offering you a small touch of perspective. Ponder with me if you will. Exactly how bad was your day? Care to compare?
For your consideration, may I present the Engineer Route Clearance Platoon, or as we call it, the RCP. The mission of the RCP is a fairly simple one. Travel the open roadways of Afghanistan and find all of the road side bombs that have been planted there by the Taliban. Nothing to it, right? A normal RCP day begins around four in the morning and by daylight the 35 soldiers of the RCP have loaded up in their vehicles and are on the road. In their search for Improvised Explosive Devices they are often required to dismount from their vehicles and move across an area on foot looking for indicators. An exposed electrical wire or an abnormal pile of rocks can only mean that a bomb is near. This task also makes the RCP a central target of ambushes and taking sniper fire is common place. At the end of an exhausting sixteen hour work day, the roads are safe, lives have been protected and just like you, our soldiers want to go home where they can kick back and relax.
That was the plan last week when one of the RCPs returned through the main gate. All that stood between these boys and their X-Box was downloading their equipment and refueling their vehicles. Like every other night, the vehicles were convoyed to the fuel point and parked as they waited their turn. As the boys began to brag about their heroic exploits, they heard the familiar whoosh and whistle of a mortar shell flying through the air. Then, in the middle of their tales there was a frozen moment when no one could move. The whistle that is often heard trailing off in the distance was getting louder. I won’t attempt an exact quote of the sergeant who realized what was happening, but I am told it sounded something like “%#;*%$*#!”
Mortar shells normally miss everything and fall harmlessly to the ground with a dusty thud, but in this case, it is really quite amazing what one mortar shell can do when it strikes dead in the center of a fuel storage tank. Let’s just say the 4th of July came early this year. In the end, all but two vehicles were totally destroyed by burning fuel in the explosion, yet not a single soldier was hurt. Explain it any way you choose; fate, luck or protection from the almighty, but I know that the families of 36 soldiers are very happy tonight.
The next time you begin to feel down and discouraged and you think that this might be one of those terrible horrible no good very bad days, just think about the boys of the RCP and smile. Life really is good.
Counting my blessings,
John P.
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