Gotta Love Technology!

Journal Entry Thu 13 Jan 2011 (continued)
So in true form, we landed in Manas at 11pm in below freezing temperatures and proceeded with the “harassment package.” Things settled down by the early morning hours and I was able to get in a couple of hours rest in a real bed. Of course, as luck would have it, I drew a top bunk. For those of you that know me, you know that I’m somewhat vertically challenged. Being on the top rack SUCKS for me, but what do you do. On top of that, the heat in our tent went out at 4 am. Did I mention the below freezing temps? At any rate, it was all made worthwhile when I was able to reach my girl on Skype. You’ve got to love how far we’ve come technologically. Earlier this morning I overheard a Marine complaining that during the course of a twenty minute Skype conversation with his wife, his call was dropped three times. I shared with him this tidbit: twenty years ago today I was driving around the Saudi Arabian desert in a Humvee, waiting for Operation DESERT STORM to kick off. There was no internet, no cell phones, and it took the better part of a month to get a response to a letter you sent home. Depending on where you were in the desert, you could wait 6-8 weeks for mail. He looked at me momentarily in disbelief, the same look my nine year old gave me when I told him phones used to have cords when I was growing up. That Marine then looked back at his friend and remarked that he was “tired of this crap” and that he was getting out as soon as he got back. I’m assuming the poor internet connectivity was the last straw. My, how times have changed.
Now, back to my conversation with my bride; somehow with both of us as technologically challenged as we are, we managed to connect via Skype. Picture two virgins trying to “do it” on their wedding night. Where is it? What are you doing? Stop doing that. Is that supposed to happen? Are you on? That’s funny, right? But, we did get to chat and see each others faces while we did so. It was comforting to say the least, to be able to hear her voice and know that she is ok. This evening we got back so that I could see the kids off to school. I almost felt like I was part of the morning mayhem at the Sablan household. When things calmed down, it was just her and I again. It was as if I was sitting across the kitchen counter from her, like I could reach out and hold her hand. I think I’m going to like Skype. Thank God for technology.