…is waking up on the day your parents and auntie are due to arrive, knowing you’re completely not ready for them to do so. You pull your laptop into bed with you for your morning email fix, and what to your wondering eyes does appear? No, not a sleigh, but a letter, your first one, from a soldier you ‘adopted.’

And he’s apologizing for not writing back sooner.

As if responding to email from strangers is the first thing on someone’s mind when they’re stationed an hour outside Baghdad.

I haven’t even had coffee yet, and I’m smiling.

Happy Thursday, everyone.