Baby Girl

I can remember the day you were born.  I was only six and the memory is hazy to me, but I was excited, I know that much.  The memory warms my heart just like those big brown eyes of yours always do.  The feeling of wonder and happiness all mixed up comes back to me as I think of the first time I saw you.   You were so tiny and funny looking, kind of alien like, yet beautiful.  It was fourteen years ago today, the day I met my baby sister.  That was just the beginning, not even the good part.  I loved you from the first moment I saw you, but it was a love that could only keep growing.

My night has been spent in a photo album, like many other nights before it.  I miss you every day.  I especially miss you on this one.   You smile up at me from my computer screen and everything else disappears.  Picture after picture I watch you grow up all over again.  I watch the beautiful baby transform into the beautiful young woman and I am proud.  I can’t even describe how proud you make me.  You are as sweet and loving as you are strong and bold.  Your big heart brings happiness to everyone around you.  I am very blessed to have you in my life. 

 I wonder what kind of loony antics I missed out on today and I laugh.  You can always make me laugh.  That is something that hasn’t changed.  Don’t ever let yourself grow out of your sense of humor.  I look through fourteen years of goofy pictures and see the same crazy girl in all of them.  Thoughts of random dance parties and mustaches run through my head.  To be honest you’re kind of weird, but I love it, and I guess that means you fit in with the rest of us.     

Always remember that even when I’m gone I never stop thinking about you.  I love you with my whole heart and I pray for you daily.  Keep a smile on your face and know that you can do anything you set your mind to do.  Remember that no matter what I will always be there for you.   And know that no matter how many birthdays you have you will always be my baby girl. 

The Kids of Afghanistan

They are my favorite part of this country.  This war is a temporary job for me, I will leave here and go back home, they have known it their whole life.  They are surrounded by ugliness and hate yet their smiles never cease to brighten my day.  I watch them work all day in hot dusty fields.  I watch them herd their goats around obstacles of concertina wire and blown up cars.  They come running to wave at us as we drive by.  I like them all...even the rock throwers.   

    

   little rascal bastards that they are...

While I might cuss them every now and then, and sometimes maybe toss a rock back their way, they still make me laugh.  I can't take it too personal anyway.  I've thrown a few rocks in my day and our trucks are the closest things to trains these kids have.

While little American boys and girls sit in their air conditioned homes and watch cartoons they work from sunrise till sunset.  I respect them.  They are hard workers and their little calloused hands show it.

Despite all the hard work and grown up problems they have, kids are still kids.

And kids crack me up...

 

 

When they aren't workin they're hustling, usually us.  They try to sell us stuff we give them.  They steal food and water off of our moving trucks.  I don't get mad, I get impressed.  They are doing what they can to eat and I respect that.  Don't let their smiles fool you, they are starving. 

 

Notice the bright red color in their hands.  They haven't been fingerpainting, its a symptom of malnutrition.

 This little girl left with a piece of my heart, I'll never forget her.  She came up to my truck trying to get some water for her baby brother.  As soon as she put on the puppy dog eyes my heart melted, she was a pro.  I wanted to give her everything I had, but I knew as soon as I did my truck would be surrounded by a swarm of hungry children.  Thats how it works.  If any other kids saw the hand off they would be all over us.  They would probably fight each other for anything that got tossed out and a crowd around the truck wouldn't have been safe for them or us.   I had to wait.

I managed to sneak her a candy bar and she quickly stuffed it in her shirt, like I said, this girl was a pro.  I started snapping pictures and she was joined by a couple more.  They came and went as they realized I wasn't giving anything out.  Recognize the boy on the right?

Once the other kids came around she dropped the puppy dog eyes and switched to a different game.

We were making faces back and forth.  Like I said, kids are kids no matter where you're at.

While watching the group that came and went from around my truck I realized that this girl was top dog.  I didn't have to worry about anybody taking anything from her.  She ran things around here.  When she ran off the others and it was just her and her baby brother I handed her a bottle of water. I was sad that it was all I could give her.  As the little girl walked away I sat thinking about those little red hands reaching up for the bottle.  The look of thanks in her big brown puppy dog eyes will be with me forever. 

 They live poor and hungry in a war torn desert.  All they have is each other. 

The future of this country rests in their red calloused hands. 

I pray that they may build themselves a better life.