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    « H E Lieutenant K :: email
    posted Sunday, 18 March 2007
    Two weeks ago I tried to leave work to attend a meeting about 20 miles away, but turned around after making it only 5 miles in half an hour. The conditions felt pretty close to a blizzard. Cars and trucks alike were sliding all over the icy roads. Snow plows did not exist. The interstate reminded me of a scene from a Stephen King novel: almost complete white out and only the dull glow of hundreds of red tail lights.

    But for the last week the weather has been an inspiration. The sun vaults off the Wasatch Mountains each morning and falls behind the Great Salt Lake come evening. Clouds have cast their shadows elsewhere than this valley.

    I thought that the hellish summer I spent in Iraq would increase my love for winter this year - the snow, the frozen moonscape of a silent winter night. But I was wrong. There were beautiful days this winter in Salt Lake City, true, but for the most part the inversion and dirty air were unpleasant.  They have left me longing for the winter snows to melt.

    Now I've sprung my clock forward. I'll give the hour to the wind. 

    I'm thinking about buying a home. The kids and had a long lazy Sunday today, which encompassed two parks, an Arby's, Super Wal-Mart, and hours of bike riding. We ended the weekend by taking a drive to one of the houses I am thinking about making an offer on. I like to drive by a prospective house at night to get a feel for the neighborhood.

    Tonight my timing was perfect. On the way there we were laughing because the sun was making all the clouds we could see turn a vivid pink. It was if the sunset were packaged up just for my daughter. At least she believed it was so.

    The static electricity in the air, the smell of the arid desert wind dancing with the music on the radio, the shadowed clusters of kids on bikes hanging out in their driveways, the streetlamps initial glow, and the thought that I am here in Salt Lake City, Utah, not the Sunni Triangle (yes, I still think about Iraq often even after 8 months) coalesced into a dusky vesper. 

    When we got home, the kids dutifully put on their pajamas without my reminding them. I went into the bathroom and they were brushing their teeth, trying to figure out if they liked the taste of the new cinammom kids toothpaste I bought at Wal-Mart. My son is too short to reach the sink so he was standing on his tpitoes on a little plastic purple stool.

    I brought them upstairs and tucked them in as the lights of this valley that two hundred years ago was lit only by the fires of Native Americans, twinkled around us like fire reflected in rubies.

    They were asleep in five minutes. And I wasn't far behind. These are the days to remember. 

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    Leave comments for Captain K here: (5)


    1. nerissa left...
    Wednesday, 21 March 2007 2:21 am

    Good day Captain!

    I can't totally believe that I am writing now to a great man of war! Anyways, let me introduce myself first.

    I am Nerissa, a student from the Philippines. I first knew you Sir through our journalism class when we studied about blogging. I read your life story in a prominent magazine. A military man turned a good blogger. How amazing! You are indeed worthy to be recognized as one of the "People of the Year".

    I am ashame of myself because I didn't really knew the existence of blogs (well, i was not that interested about the internet before). I admire you because you are a big information contributor in the blogging world though you have a very hard job as a soldier. And I admire you for that!

    You are indeed writing for history. Like this present post of yours, you wrote about just an ordinary that will be a part of your memory forever. "Now I've spring my clock forward. I'll give the hour the wind." What a lines! Admirable! If only I didn't knew you are a military man, I would really think that you are a great poet. I love the way you write about that winter days. You play words artistically. Another thing, I can see that you are a very good father. Hope I am not wrong.

    I noticed that you are truly dedicated with your job, noble job because though you are out of the war scene already, you still think about life in Iraq. Keep it up Sir! Continue that passion and continue writing for others to be inspired of. God bless you and your family!


    2. niks left...
    Wednesday, 21 March 2007 5:50 pm

    Hello,Mr.Kelley!

    I salute you for your dedication to your work. I know it was hard for you to leave your family behind for a couple of months to go to Iraq. You decided to go there because you have to even if it was a bit dangerous there.

    I aslo admire your strong commitment to your beloved family because you really looked for a way to convey to them what you were going through there in Iraq.

    I was able to read some of your blog entries and I find those entries very sensible. I hope to read more of your blog entries. More power and God bless.


    3. chloe left...
    Wednesday, 21 March 2007 6:33 pm

    i love your use of detailed imagery..

    "I thought that the hellish summer I spent in Iraq would increase my love for winter this year - the snow, the frozen moonscape of a silent winter night. But I was wrong. There were beautiful days this winter in Salt Lake City, true, but for the most part the inversion and dirty air were unpleasant. They have left me longing for the winter snows to melt."

    it's nice to know that amidst all the warrish things you experince in Iraq, you publish your own private thoughts.

    Publishing your intimate thoughts with your family breaks the stereotype of people who write mostly about their most known personality. I chose this entry among others because seeing through it is like seeing a family man beneath a military uniform.

    that among others, stresses the sincerity of one's writing and is the essence of a true netizen.


    4. beway left...
    Tuesday, 3 April 2007 10:22 pm :: http://barbette.blogspot.com

    I love springtime in the rocky mountains, and I can picture the beauty of the Salt Lake valley in my mind with your help. I lived in Pocatello for 3 years, and loved traveling around the mountains. Beautiful, indeed!

    Glad that you and the children are doing well. Sorry it's been so long since I said "Hi".