Classes Have Started

I'm glad classes have started and I can focus on that for the most part, get my mind off my memories.

I like my roommate, which is good. A good Christian boy. Which is good. There were days in Afghanistan when I was glad I had my faith to get me through. There were days when I was certain God abandoned me. There were days when I doubted He existed. In the end, though, I know my faith brought me through. It gave me strength there and afterwards, and I would not be here at school without it.

I finally finished decorating, such as it is. I like to keep it minimal. I have my textbooks, my Bible, a few works on warriors that also helped to get me through -- the Iliad, Shakespeare's Henry V, Gilgamesh. Yes, Gilgamesh, with the story of he and his friend, Enkidu -- warrior friends, who fought together (here Achilles' friendship is relevant too) -- that helped get me through, reminded me I had to keep it all together for my comrades. We, together, would make it through. And most of us did. Most, but as is inevitable (as we also see in the Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh), some must fall -- and those who must remain behind are left in sorrow and the need to keep their fallen comrades living in their memories. If I were a poet, I'd write songs about them. I'd write an epic of Afghanistan, to celebrate the bravery of every warrior there, fighting for the misguided goals of ignoble leaders.