|
Letter No. 13: Quick and appreciative thoughts as they
shut down the Internet cafe
By
David J. Jenkins, USU class of '98
February 8, 2005 | Hello
everyone, Greetings from Baghdad . . .
Our move must be eminent, for as I sit here composing
this "Greeting." I was informed that the computer
technicians are on their way to dismantle the Internet
cafe.
I am not sure what to write about. I just felt it important
to pass along a greeting to everyone while I still have
the opportunity. I am certain that I will have other
opportunities, but I just do not know for sure.
I wish to thank everyone for their continued support.
It has been an interesting ride here in Baghdad, and
I am grateful for the many letters of inspiration that
have found their way into my inbox.
Each soldier has different motivations, and the one
thing that has carried me through thus far has been
my ability to communicate with so many of you over the
past few months. This experience has made me a little
wiser, a little more tolerant an d a little more perceptive.
Each time I walk across the patrol base, or drive through
the streets of Baghdad, I keep in my mind, what do the
people back home want to hear about? Although I am certain
that any word from Iraq would suffice, I have strained
to make my updates interesting and positive.
I believe, for those who began this journey with me,
each of you can attest to the fact that I have become
a better writer. My e-mail address book began with an
abundant list of 17 people. To date, I just entered
my 250th entry. I am certain that they must not stop
there, for I still receive messages from people that
I do not know, and thereby, the list continues to grow.
I have been honored to appear in several publications
since this began. The Portland OOregonian, Hood
River News, and a standing column at www.hardnewscafe.usu.edu.
Utah State Un iversity has been kind enough to join
me for this ride and share my perspective with their
readers.
While here in country I have had the opportunity to
meet many people that I otherwise would not have. I
have made friends of fellow servicemen, a few locals
and many people across our great nation that share a
belief in freedom and honor and value the republic in
which we spend our lives. I hope to carry on these friendships
for many years to come.
I have also had the opportunity to expand my knowledge
through college courses and Army correspondence classes.
Although I already hold a Bachelors in English and Human
Resources from Utah State University and a master's
degree in physical education from Almeda University
in Boise, I have been able to increase my knowledge
base and to improve my writing through a program in
journalism.
What is a shame, I suppose, is that many soldiers came
here and put their lives on hold. They will return to
the same job and have to re-learn everything over again,
because knowledge is perishable. For lack of better
phrases, "use it or l ose it." Many of these
young men did not take this time to improve their lives;
educationally, spiritually or physically.
In fact, there are quite a few soldiers who will return
to go to college. How much farther along would they
have been had they completed courses on-line, but did
not take this opportunity.
I guess we all have opportunities that greet us each
day, and it is said that . . . every opportunity is
taken. If not by you, then someone else.
I am grateful to a master sergeant here in our battalion
who inspired me to take classes. I am grateful to supporters
back home who have inspired me to be a better writer.
I am grateful for the letters from family and friends
who have inspired me to reconnect with the "Heavenlies."
Many who know me know that I am not a very "religious"
person, but I find peace in knowing that I have a strong
"Faith" and "Spirituality." I'll
leave that to each of you to define for yourselves.
Whether there was a point to this, I don't know. But
in essence, I am trying to say . . . "Thank you."
One of my biggest regrets in life was not being able
to serve in the first Gulf War. I was serving with MWSS
473, Marine Air Group 46, MCAS El Toro, Calif. With
the foreknowledge of a war coming. my unit sent me to
a communications school at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center, 29 Palms, Calif. I finished number two in my
class and I was awarded the opportunity to attend an
advanced course. Our group was two days into that class
-- it was Aug. 11, 1990 -- when we were notified that
we were going to war. My unit left a few days later
and I was not able to withdraw from class to join my
unit. For this, I have always had a feeling of incompleteness.
I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to serve.
I have had the opportunity to grow. I have had the opportunity
to learn.
For those who are here in country now, take this time
to improve yourselves. Take classes, pay your bills,
work out and eat healthy. Your lives are not on hold.
Who you were before deployment came with you, and who
you are when you finish, will go home with you. Your
lives are never on hold. Make the most of this time.
Col. Charles W. Edwards Jr. of the Multinational Division–North/Task
Force Eagle, Chaplain states that, "We convince
ourselves that life will be better after we get married,
have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that
the kids aren't old enough and we'll be
more content when they are older. After that we're
frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will
certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.
We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when
our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get
a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when
we have more money, when we re-deploy back to the states,
when we retire from the military.
The truth is, there's
no better time to be happy than right now. If not now,
when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.
It's best to admit this to yourself and decide
to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes
comes from Alfred D'Sousa, he said, "for a long
time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin
-- real life. But there was always some obstacle in
the way, something to be gotten through first, s ome
unfinished business, time to be served, a debt to be
paid. Then life would begin. Then it dawned on me that
these obstacles were my life."
This perspective has
helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness
is the way. So, treasure every moment you have. And
treasure it more because you shared it with someone
special, special enough to spend your time, and remember,
time waits for no one . . . so stop waiting until you
finish school, until you lose ten pounds, until you
have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you
start work, until you retire, until you get married,
until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday
morning, until you get a new car or home, until your
car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer,
until fall, until winter, until you are out of the Army,
until the fifteenth, until your song comes on, until
you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you
die.
Decide now that there
is no better time than right now to be happy. . . .
Happiness is a journey not a destination.
No longer hopeful for
a better tomorrow, I am grateful for a better today.
Best wishes,
David J. Jenkins
Click
for Letter No. 1 and a photo of David J. Jenkins
Click
for Letter No. 2
Click
for Letter No. 3
Click
for Letter No. 4
Click
for Letter No. 5
Click
for Letter No. 6
Click
for Letter No. 7
Click for Letter No.
8
Click for Letter No.
9
Click for Letter No.
10
Click for Letter No.
11
Click for Letter No.
12
MS
MS
|
