Your2ndPlace

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ashleigh Wade, a business owner and very very very busy person just like all of you :) I've been in SL for a little over a year now and I've been lucky to experience so many great things. I've also been fortunate to have met, and worked with, a lot of the people that blog here. Aaannnd I've also had my share of loss and drama, but we won't talk about that now ;)

I want to share with you something I ran across in the SLX forums. This is an entry from Ford Edelman a/k/a Balance Writer. To bring you up to speed (in case needed), Ford has a company listed on WSE. It has halted trading (may be temporary) while he serves in Iraq. He is a US soldier. While he's away I am acting as Interim CEO of FED.

More importantly though, Ford is a great friend.

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From:
http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=11167...

Balance Writer:

I had to cut my last post short because a mortar round impacted about 75m from where I was sitting while I was typing. The good news is that I was able to get back to my duty position in time to return fire.

I am really proud of the way my guys perform their duties on a daily basis. We got visited AGAIN by an officer in a high place, because he was so impressed with our speed and accuracy. I really wish I could go into details, because the mission was truly an amazing feat.

Just to give everyone a reminder of the things I will not discuss here:

1. Injuries or deaths of any personnel, friendly or enemy.
2. Capabilities or limitations of my unit.
3. Size and strength of my unit.
4. Actual names, ranks, or duty postions.
5. Rules of Engagement.
6. My personal opinion of the US Government.
7. Anything else I don't feel the need or desire to talk about, or that I feel you do not have a need/right to know.

Here are things I will discuss:
1. My personal feelings about things I have seen/done.
2. What day-to-day activities are like.
3. Answers to questions you might have that don't break the rules.

I am very concerned that my 16 month old daughter only weighs a little over 20 lbs. She is so tiny. The doctor says that nothing is wrong, she is just a tiny girl. She is the most beautiful thing in the world. She has her mother's gray eyes and blonde hair, and she has my smile.

My son is struggling in school. He dosn't pay attention very well. My wife and I are still considering medication for him, but he is only in second grade. I just don't want the other kids to pick on him for being a little slower. I used to study with him an hour or so a night, but now I'm not there.

My wife needs a ton of dental work. Something like $6,000 worth. I don't think my dental coverage will help that much. She says she'll wait til spring because the roof and the furnace both need repairs before the snow comes. It's a good thing I get extra money for deployment.

I suppose I am only talking about these things because like many Soldiers I feel helpless to do anything about situations at home, and I feel extremely guilty for leaving my family all alone. It's hard to concentrate on my duties with these issues on my mind. Somehow, I find ways to stay focused. Sometimes it's just talking to my buddies about it. Other times, it's just doing my job that helps.

It is extremely dark here tonight. I haven't seen Livi's Moon in over a week. That's what I call the moon, since it came on the day my daughter turned 16 months. I don't know why, but the phrase just stuck with me. I suppose it's because I was always the one to put her in bed at night.

Anyway, I have become well adapted to moving around and seeing at night. I try not to use my flashlight at all, because I fear snipers. It's funny how when you really try to listen, and really try to see, and concentrate on smells, how many things you can notice in and around your area. Vigilance is extremely important at night, because vehicles here don't always have their lights on, so I am constantly looking all directions when I move about on foot at night, especially when Livi's moon is away. How stupid would it be to come all this way to fight a war only to die by getting hit by a truck? I suppose if it could happen to Patton, it could happen to anyone.

Oh, I have to make a slight change to the address again. It seems some other clerks from some other units have seen packages that have come to "Any Soldier" in my unit, and decided it would bee just as good for their unit. I suppose it is, but after all, I did try to rally support for MY unit. If you want to send small items or letters of support, please send them to:

NCOIC
HHC 1-87 (B 3-6 FA)
FOB Warrior
APO AE 09338

I'm not even at that stupid FOB. Strangely, I feel more secure in this tiny little place with my tiny group of friends than I do on that large FOB. I'm getting tired, so I have to go.

Thanks again to all of you who support us.

See you soon,
BW

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Thanks for allowing me to share my second life with all of you.

-Ash

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