I mean that seriously. This morning is sunny and pleasantly cool. This afternoon will be sunny and pleasantly warm. This evening will be warm with low humidity. There is a sign over some dust that says “stay off the grass.” I thought it was a cruel hoax, but now I see that grass is starting to come up. Birds have returned in great numbers. At night, bats scoop up insects. The place is coming alive.
In Wisconsin, life hunkers down over the winter and burst forth in spring. You just stay inside and wait it out. Here it is the opposite. Fall is spring around here.
I can’t complain. I hope to leave today to go back to Anbar, where it is as nice, but I expect the weather will be similar (a little cooler).
I got promoted today. This is a good thing. I am a little surprised. I assessed my chances at 15%. On the plus side, I will get better treatment with transportation and helicopters. My new rank has a protocol equivalent of a brigadier general. The Marines take rank very seriously, so unlike Rodney Dangerfield, I will get some respect.
BTW – it was also a beautiful day in Baghdad before I got the news about the promotion. I wrote the first paragraphs before I opened email, so my assessment of Baghdad’s charms was not influenced by my personal mood. It is a nice day here.