Two days later
To: maxmorrison@gilmoreproducts.net
From: kcgilmore@gilmoreproducts.net
Subject: I’m here!
Dear Max and Ryan,
I’m here! And missing you both so much. How is Ryan? Has he finally understood that I’m not going to come home right away? I hope so. He’s pretty adaptable and since he’s with you, Max, I think he’ll be fine.
I arrived safe and fairly sound. I slept some on the plane, but I’m still tired, and hungry and totally out of sorts. I have a cot, though and plan to make use of it shortly.
I did spend some time in Norfolk, VA and we mobilized from there. I’m at a Fleet Hospital on the Navy side, since I am a surgeon. Probably be doing much of what you’d see in M*A*S*H. (Even though M*A*S*H is Army, my unit will be similar, and of course more modern.)
Max decided to buy the entire M*A*S*H boxset. He planned to watch the movie and the TV program, so he would have an inkling of what KC experienced. Anything to feel closer to her. He returned to her email.
I’m in a tent with nine other women. All of us of the medical persuasion. I’m the only trained lab person, although I’m going to be working as a surgeon/doctor, apparently. (Of course, I haven’t done that type of work in a while, but I’m sure (hoping!) it’ll come back to me.) I’m a bit nervous by the practical end of doctoring, since I’ve been using the text book end recently, but anyway, this should be interesting...
Max read through the lines and decided she was a nervous wreck. He doubted she would have any trouble, but KC was likely to worry herself to nausea over this. For her sake and everyone else on the base, he hoped she got comfortable with her skills quickly.
Speaking of hot, it’s scorching here! Around 110 degrees. Those who’ve been here for a while say it’s positively cool... (That doesn’t bode well.) Although they do say you get used to it. Mitch also assured me I would. He also, bless him, gave me a very good overview of what this would be like. So, I’m not that surprised. But it is one of those situations you have to experience.
While the days are scorching hot, the nights drop rapidly in temperature, by about thirty degrees or so, so then it feels positively cold. I can already assure you, I don’t like the desert!
I start work tomorrow. The other women were so happy to see me (or another surgeon, anyway), they cheered when I found my cot. Which was nice. I still hate that I’m here, but I guess I’m needed, so it’s not as hard.
I also realized I’m about the only one here with her own computer. (Which I got cleared as soon as I came.) Yay for Mitch and Lainy loaning me the same computer she built for him. It’s wonderful!
So I’m at least able to send you this. Fortunately, we’ll be able to keep in touch. I imagine the ladies here will probably use my computer to keep in contact with their families too.
All for now, as I need food and sleep. I’m not even sure what day it is now. Or what time.
I miss you both!
KC
P.S. I typed up a section for Ryan you can share with him. He’ll like hearing about Kuwait.
Max scanned the note from KC and was relieved. He still missed her and hated the distance between them, but at least she had arrived safely. Trying to envision where she now lived proved difficult so he gave up on the effort.
He wanted her back home with him and Ryan, but since that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, he instead clicked on the button to reply to her e-mail. He could send KC a message. Then he would go find Ryan and read him the note she sent specifically to him. Maybe he and Ryan could learn about Kuwait together.
To: KCGilmore@gilmoreproducts.net
From: MaxMorrison@gilmoreproducts.net
Subject:re: I’m Here!
Dear KC,
Glad to hear you’ve landed and settled in safely. That’s a relief for those of us on this end. We’re not busy here at all at the moment. Ryan’s sacked out, he had a tough day, daycare and then this evening, trying to chase Spuds all over the yard. (I did manage to get the lawn mowed, hopefully for the last time this year since it’s the beginning of October.)
They’ve had a lot of fun exploring, but I did finally convince them to settle down for a story. We read to the end of the third page and Ryan was asleep. Spuds sacked out by the first page.
I ended up having to read the rest of the book to myself. (Sponge Bob Squarepants is pretty funny. I might have enjoyed it more than Ryan.) Ryan didn’t get his usual nap, so I’ll just consider this his nap time. It’s not quite six, so I figure in another fifteen minutes or less they’ll be back up and all over the place.
Lainy wanted me to tell you she’s nearly finished tweaking the phones and she’ll send one to you soon. She promised to bring one to me too. Plus, the bakers are already planning your first shipment of “goodies”; please don’t ask me what that means, because I don’t know. That’s all they told me. (I figure you’ll get regular shipments of cookies just like Mitch did.)
I expect you’ll receive packages regularly from the family too. Mitch probably already explained all that to you? Sounded like he was thorough in describing his experience? I didn’t like much of what I heard, but remember, those of us here are willing to send you anything that will help your experience over there. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll send you the item(s).
We’re all thinking about you here, and wish you could still be home, but are proud you’re there. As a military woman, your contribution is vitally important, especially that you’re a surgeon. Think you’ll be happy doing the doctor thing? At least you know you’re being helpful. And I’m glad you won’t have to go off base very often.
Lainy said that was the hardest part for her. Losing contact with Mitch for three months at a time. I’m glad we’ll be able to stay in touch. That’s a help.
Oh, gotta go. Mr. Ryan and Spuds are awake and it looks like it’s time to start supper. Thanks for the recipe book you left. I found it yesterday and could have kissed you! Thank you for that most precious gift! As you guessed, I can get around in the kitchen but I’m not a great cook. I am fairly good at following directions. (No comments from you, Katrina Celeste!) Anyhow Ryan and I won’t starve! <grin>
He says he wants hot dogs. Since that’s not in your recipe book, I figure either you don’t cook him those, or you believe I can manage them without a recipe. Luckily for you, the latter is true. I think we’ll have French fries too. I’ve got lots of those. So, you see, we’re eating our vegetables. No worries. <big grin>
And since you’re all the way across the ocean now, we men are going to eat French fries and hot dogs. But don’t worry. Mom and Lainy both mentioned having us over for supper soon. I suppose they’ll feed us veggies. Anyway, by the time your eight months are up, we’ll only just have gotten around to all the rellys houses (all the relatives have invited us) for a meal. So we’re good.
Ryan says to tell you he loves you. (Since he woke up, it’s taken me five minutes or more to get these two paragraphs typed.) We’re going to make supper together. Men stick together, you know. Oh, and the phone just rang. Lainy’s got some trouble at a client’s, so Mitch is coming over for hot dogs and French fries.
He says you’d probably be happy to have this fare, and I think is feeling bad for you, since apparently he remembers the food over there? Want me to send you some hot dogs? <grin> Ryan might not feel like sharing though. He’s excited about Uncle Mitch coming over for supper. Mitch sounded pretty happy to come too. I’m sure we’ll have a great time. Maybe catch a game.
We miss you!
Max and Ryan