'ave a Good Morning
(New Faces,,, Let's RUN!!!)

Well what a great day. I had a  very relaxed morning walking the dirt roads and squatting in the common areas of Bagram AB. Upon arriving here I knew new activity patterns and networks would have to be created. The starting with nothing and creating new relationships is such an intriguing practice. So at this point there is definitely some momentum of creation to be noted. It's ironic that I'm a little scared of figuring things out here to fast and becoming bored. I should stop telling myself that nonsense though. This base is pretty large and people are constantly passing through. 

A part of the 'day off' routine has been to go to breakfast and sit and people watch until the population
 feels more like admission into intimate pods of interaction. I like to close the place down and kill some time, you know what I'm saying? 





Who knew how much fun this could be? I know,,, you did right? :) It's totally just like a high school lunchroom.  So yea,,, I totally did that today and in good company. Today was all about fun conversation and meeting new people. 

I left the dining facility (dfac), departing from my good company (Paulus) and headed for more loitering at the local coffee house. I don't drink coffee so this was truly a division 1A level of loitering. I didn't buy JACK! Low and behold an open seat was available. I snatched a motor magazine, allowed myself to be swallowed into the well ridden couch and spun myself up on the full inventory of Ford motor 





vehicles. (boooorrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnngggg)!!! Ok, I'm a Ford hatter,,,, but I love "You",,, I promise. It's cool. Something about the smell of a grounded Columbian 'Crack' bean brew and a community sofa that's had a hard life that just suggest, "Relax,,, there's no time in this dimension. Just slip away and watch the world pass by".  I totally could have passed out in a high traffic area today. I shared a few quick smiles and greeting with the passing "revenue producing" customers and was even awarded a "You have a nice smile" by some attractive peers (women,,, just checking in). 

I left the comfort of the seductive aroma of legal 'Crack' and the pleading, yet unheard, appeal of the 




punished pleather and ran into a desert acquaintance. We shared some laughs, I met her road dog and enjoyed an offered Subway chocolate chip cookie; another legalized 'Crack' item. God bless America. I left the ladies to return back to work and started my short walk back to the fire department.   

 I've been feeling a sense to run around a section of the base and left the fire station with an intent of completion.  What do you know, as I was making my way out of the desert dirt rooted compound and onto the main road I saw a guy all geared up and stretching to begin a run. I through a quick, " Going for a run uh? I'll be right with ya in a second". He asked if I was running and I explained that I was headed just up the road to change and come back to "Get it On". He offered to wait and I was inspired by his will. A running mate sounded like an undeniable gift. I threw some pep in my step and doubled back to the station, changed clothes and headed out the door. I ended up running the majority of the distance back to our point of inception out of courtesy. "Hey, he's still there"! Before I caught his name we were already committed in a brisk walk to loosen up the ol' joints. We ended up getting an Awesome run in. Great Run, Fun Conversation, Expansion of Network. I call that a gift. What a way to start the day.