Visitors, visitors, visitors

"Tis the season for the visits
fah la la la la, la la la la"

We had the deputy secretary of state with a small entourage. well, entourage is a stretch - he had a few staff people. of course, lots of security. but, still , with only a few staff people, it was not an entourage.

he traveled all over the country and made a great impression on everyone. i made a point of shaking his hand and tanking him for his work - and for awarding me a degree at the JMIC a few years ago.
he is a quite impressive career public servant - one i hope to emulate in many ways.

next. on the 18th of December, the day Nancy and i were going on our first r&r, the secretary herself arrived. a short visit, but she took the time to say hello to the "troops". well, really it was the troops, since most of the State dpt. types could not find a place in the hall for her meet-and-greet, so we moved on to other things so CR could have her photos with the ethnically, racially, sex, and age balanced group of soldiers, sailors, airmen/women and marines. hmm, maybe we should call them airers to avoid the execrable airmen/women?

of course, there are always a lot of visitors to Baghdad at the Christmas season. all the political leaders come to show their support for the troops. some, let's be honest, not everyone is kind and other-centered, come to win votes back in the states. both are disruptive. yes, it is important to show support for the troops, and i think those fighting outside the wire, facing death regularly, appreciate the gesture. still, maybe a real day off with no visitors at all, but just a day, be it thanksgiving day or be it Christmas, when all one has to do is give thanks or contemplate the birth of the God the Son as a baby would be better than visitors.

Merry Christmas!