That old feelin'

I was in the chow hall about an hour ago and they have TVs there so you can watch AFN. Their was this commercial that was using a song by U2 called Beautiful Day in the background. I am a U2 fan anyway but it brought up a that old feelin' you get.

My brother Tyler is about 15 months younger then me so growing up we didn't get along very well but as we got older we became best friends and we still have a wonderful relationship to this day. The first birthday present I ever got from him that he bought with his own money was the U2 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. That was the only CD in my car for almost a year. I had to listen to it tell it just wouldn't play anymore lol. The best part was that it came form him and no matter if it was an album or brand new car it would of had the same effect that it did and that was that joy that permeates your entire body and everyone that brushes shoulders with you gets a little of that feeling. Thinking about it now, it feels it like a cool blanket that keeps your ship steady in the storm.

The funny thing is that my birthday is the 23rd of this month and my platoon leader's parents sent me a birthday card wishing me a happy birthday, stay safe and all that. Well even though they have never met me and probably never will the card had penguins on it which just happen to be my favorite animal. Its nice to get anything in the mail out here in Iraq just to remind you that their is a place other then here. That's the hardest part about being here out on the moon ; not being able to participate in the outside world or even really seeing it other then the news. You tend to let time grapple with you and lose touch with everyone and everything that's out there. So feelings like the one that song gave me are as if an epiphany.

I immediately came to my room and pulled the song up on the computer and learned the chords and started playing it with glee. It just let me know, even if for a second, that I am not alone out here that their are people out there that know my name and at the word of it miss me as much as I miss them. So here's a little about me that a lot of people never get the chance to know ; that , in my option, wealth is a very important and must have thing in everyone's life.

STOP! Don't start criticizing me yet let me finish...

Its something that helps define a person as in their status and the happiness of their lives.
But the wealth is not what you think. Its not money or property or a collection of 200 year old stamps ( if you do that then.. well... its just not for me that's all ..lol. Its the many different types of love they have in their life. See their are many different types and levels of love. You know what makes me a very wealth man? Its that I have more love then most people around me all the time. I surround myself with the people that I care about and that return that energy. It just took me coming out to this God forsaken place for me to really understand it fully. Once a person realizes what they really have their is nothing that could stop them in the ever pursuit of happiness that is our lives.

So next time you get that old feelin' don't just brush it off. Really think about it and cherish that brief moment in time because when it comes down to it.. all we really have are brief moments in time...so i say spend them with the ones you love because that's where the money's at.

I leave you with a quote taken out of a movie i liked. ( thank you oh wise Kung Fu turtle )

“Yesterday is history,
tomorrow is a mystery,
but today is a gift.
That is why it is called the present.”