Make a Merry Christmas

Christmas approaches! In a way, the timing is pretty good for all of us over here in Hot and Sandy Land I think, because after having been deployed now for the better part of a year, one doesn't have to look too hard to find signs of wear on everybody's psyche. So some positivity is in order. On a personal level, Christmas is one of my favorite times of year, so being away from Michelle and the kids will be especially hard, but I'm determined to make the best of it. And good news! You can help!
Here's what I'm doing: Michelle has sent me enough stockings for each of my pilot friends to have one. Another pilot friend of mine's wife sent him enough stockings for each of the maintenance guys that fix our helicopters to have one. Now we just need to stuff them. I thought about asking for people to send boxes of stuff for that purpose, but there would be a couple of problems with that. First of all, the stockings are going to be a surprise for everybody, so me receiving a large number of boxes might tip people off. Also, there would be plenty of shipping costs. Then there's the issue of mail occasionally getting delayed unexpectedly. So, I've decided to ask that if you are interested in helping me make Christmas a little more bearable for the guys in my unit that you send a monetary contribution by Paypal to: m_macton (AT) hotmail (dotcom). Obviously, replace the @ sign and the .com to make a regular email address. They have a PX here that will have plenty of stuff for stuffing, so I'll take whatever moneys I can gather and get various and sundry items from there.
If you can help, really, any amount would be helpful. I'm not going to break the bank here, but there are about 60 people or so that I'd like to fill stockings for. And no amount is too big either!!! If you haven't used Paypal before, don't worry you can send money without creating an account just by going to http://www.paypal.com/, clicking on "Send Money" and using some sort of credit card. I don't use the Paypal account for anything else at the moment, so I will know what it's for.
I feel like my focusing on somebody other than myself will be good for me not only because it's an appropriate expression of the Reason for the Season, but because it'll take my mind off of my current situation, all for a good cause. If you would consider helping to make that happen, that would be awesome. Thanks! And please feel free to pass this on to anybody you think might be interested in helping.

Home for the Holidays

Three birthdays and one major winter holiday without Marc down, two other major winter holidays, an anniversary and possibly one more birthday to go. We are spending the holidays at home (which is what I have come to call Nashville, TN), and I think it is the best possible scenario right now. That's not to say we would not treasure time with extended family, but the allure of dear friends, church, our own beds, our little fake Christmas tree, and zero driving hours (among other things) is great enough to tip the scales. I know certain aunties are disappointed, and maybe even an uncle or grandparent too, but I know they love us and try to understand.

Today I sent Marc a box full of Christmas cheer to add to his scores of lights that he is preparing to hang in, on, and around his CHU (and possibly even underneath, if it comes to that!). Before the week is out, I will send his Christmas present which I planned to wrap but realize he will know what it is as soon as he reads the customs form! Oh well. I guess it is the thought, right? He is intensely nosy and would have no doubt opened it before Christmas Day anyway. People keep reminding me that the end is getting closer, and I often reply that it is quite impossible for it to get any farther. And for that, I am thankful.