19 Jan

Another slow Friday - thank goodness. However, early this morning - really early - we received a shipment of supplies which took all night to unload. I suited-up and headed out to help receive the shipment but after 45 minutes it was clear that I would be standing around supervising the Marine Lieutenant who was directing and supervising the SNCO's and Sgt's. I saw no reason for me to stand there and supervise the supervisor - especially when a Marine Lieutenant was in charge. I let the Lieutenant know I would stay out of his way but that I was available if he needed me. He thanked me and I headed to my room to look for holes in my eyelids. The morning and the remainder of the day was relatively slow - most were recuperating form the early hours spent moving gear and equipment. However, there was one question that reared its head unexpectedly.

At 9 o'clock at night I got the one question every father hopes to hear from a confident and respectable young man - Can I marry your daughter? My first mental reaction was an immediate, "are you on drugs?" Followed by, "are you deranged - she is 3, and is still crapping in her pants! My external reaction was...ha..ha..(until what he asked sunk in) WHAT! Before I had a chance to raise my fist an interpreter quickly clarified the reason for this outrageous request. It seems that when an Iraqi man asks a girls father for her hand in marriage it means he really respects him and would like to welcome the future fiancee and the father, and of course mother, into his family. So why did he make this request; to make a long story short I was able to help him complete a task that has never been done before at our location and the Iraqi Col was thrilled at his accomplishment. Immediately after his meeting with the Col the Iraqi 1stLt offered to take my daughters hand in marriage - but in his second sentence he did mention only after she grows-up. I am not sure the legal age of marriage in Iraq but if I have anything to say about it - Iraq or USA the age is 28! Crap...this can not be a good sign - I know Anna is going to be trouble when she grows-up, cause she is pretty good now and has a mind of her own, but if this is the start of what is to come Jessica and I should start family counseling or drinking now! Until my next session....