Chicago weather...in Iraq.

I woke up this afternoon – I work night shift now, so the afternoon is my morning, no slackers here! – and when I walked outside I was immediately struck by the feeling that I wasn’t in Iraq, but rather I was in some strange place in Chicago. It’s humid here today, and overcast, and it feels like a perfect day for a motorcycle ride down Lakeshore Drive, stopping at North Ave. beach, and eating some cold chicken while drinking a beer and letting the waves lap at my feet.

It’s odd how just the scent of the weather can instantly transport you thousands of miles to the West, back to home, to the people and experiences that you love, and miss. Sometimes what I think about is what my favorite things were to do, but most often now I think about how I’d like to spend the summer with my girlfriend. Motorcycle rides are great, but without someone to share them with, they can be lonely. Cold chicken and beer by the lake? Fun, but without that someone to eat with, and play in the surf…again, just a little lonely. Have you ever run around in Lake Michigan with your jeans rolled up and all your gadgetry stuffed in a sock in your motorcycle boot (or shoe) and then sprawled lazily on the beach talking about everything and nothing at all waiting for your jeans to dry? These are all much better things to do with your one and only.

I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Iraqi summers – that by noon the tools are so hot that you can cook on them – that the air which already is dry enough to make my nose bleed will only get more dry as the heat rises, so today is a really nice respite before the summer truly hits us! Today, regardless of whatever our mission is (probably building more walls in the dfac) I know that my mind will be on the beach, with my bike, a picnic and my girlfriend all thanks to this Chicago weather in Iraq.