near beer and good-bye

Yesterday I did as near to nothing as anyone can do and still maintain office hours.  I spent the morning tying up preparations for a party.
It was a going away party for SSGT R.  He was a good guy who gave exemplary customer service arranging people’s flights for people who were ready to get outta Dodge. Hit the dust trail, etc…
The party was the tamest we’ve given for a going away.  General Order #1 and its no alcohol policy takes the great elixir of conversation out of the picture.  We sat around under the coupla eating fritos, pepsi and N/A Becks.  Some people make fun of near beer but we drink so many sodas here and bottle after bottle of water that we have to whoop it up with the juice of the barley on occasion.
We presented R. with an Iraqi flag with his names and dates of tour embroidered in it, $20 at the flea market.  We also presented him with a national ensign that S. and I had flown over the roof of the palace, I like to think at great peril to our personal safety.  At least the guy who gave us access to the roof kept saying, “Stand over her on this side,” as we fumbled with the flag, getting it ready to display.  ‘Snipers like to watch the front of the palace.”
Afterward presenting the parting gifts we sat around telling R. stories until the cheese dip was gone.