While having dinner a few moments ago my mobile phone rang. I use it mainly for working with war veterans as I don't have many mates (well I do, they just won't admit it to anyone) so a call is usually from a war veteran about his case I'm working on for the Veterans' Review Board.
"How's it goin?"
It was my youngest son who recently deployed to Afghanistan. Initially I thought there may be a problem, like you know, when a cop knocks on your door.
We had a good chat. He is in a camp somewhere (I'd better be a bit vague) that will be their temporary home until they get to their proper base.
It was about lunch time in Afghanistan.
We talked about the 2RAR boys in Dubai that were drinking alcohol, he was in Dubai at that time because his unit, 8/9 RAR, is replacing 2RAR.
It will be about another month before he can contact me again, probably via email when he gets it all set up.
Isn't communication marvellous now?
When I was in Vietnam (coincidently I served with 2RAR in Vietnam) I sent a birthday greeting home to my mother. We were out bush and I had to send it by radio. But I couldn't send a message message, all I could do was select a number that represented a phrase. I think the telegram she received from me said, "Happy Birthday. Ian."
I was good to hear his voice, he sounded positive and upbeat, I hope he maintains that all through his deployment.
My son is kneeling in the front. The safety glasses (not to be confused with sunglasses) are an issue item.
Things have changed - for the better obviously. Snail mail has it's advantages, however. It provides a written record. I still have every letter I wrote to my parents when I was in SVN. My mother kept them all, and I unearthed them in her belongings after she died.
ReplyDeleteIs this him?
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