It’s funny to me how much I have thought of each of my uncles since I’ve been here. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my uncles and do customarily think of them from time to time…but somehow they’ve come up in conversation more here than ever!

UNCLE TERRY

You’d never know it (mostly because he’d NEVER tell you) but he can make, fix and figure out anything! From building his own stove, to making the best nut cracker my mom (his sister) has ever had – he can do it all. What I love about him is that he just does it. Doesn’t need a lot of fanfare – just sees what needs to be done and next thing you know, it’s done and he’s no where to be found.

He would love Afghanistan! There is such a can-do attitude here. Just yesterday I had a company install an A/C in my room – funny thing is that their version of “install” was to mount it on the wall but to leave the cord (sans plug) hanging down the wall. It was 90+ degrees yesterday and my room takes the full brunt of the sun – so while it is bearable in the hallway – my room is baking. I was nearly panic stricken until my cook explained to me that he had gone to the market and purchased a plug. He had a makeshift screw driver – and the next thing I knew my room was being flooded with cool air. Reminded me of my uncle Terry.

UNCLE JOHN

I just have to smile when I think of Uncle John (my dad’s brother) in Afghanistan. He is a brash, no nonsense kind of a guy and wouldn’t let the men here get away with staring at me…or making little comments! He’d either be a target, or a leader of men…my guess is that it would be the latter.

He too is remarkably talented. Of particular note is his ability to work with wood. He and my father built my parent’s kitchen cabinets – and they are beautiful! Every time I look out a window or go through my front door on my way to work, I notice that the woodwork is warped, over painted and ill fitting. Don’t get me started on the stone floors! They are chronically dirty (because there is a gap under the door that lets the desert winds throw a gritty mixture of sand and dust into the house.

I think of him too when I am struggling in my Dari class. He has mastered two languages, in addition to English. Germany has a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) located here in Mazar, as well as a few government offices – I’d give anything to be able to drop in and speak in their native tongue… not to mention the few Italians I’ve run into. For now I have to satisfy my need to communicate by learning Dari!

UNCLE DICK

There are two things I am struggling to find here…one is a descent couch (or upholstery job) and the other is a great guy with a sly sense of humor! If ever he gets bored with working in Washington he really could run an empire here! The guys building furniture – or reupholstering the old cars (think Toyota circa 1970’something…okay maybe newer than that, but…)  are really capable, but the materials they use leave a lot to be desired!

If I can find a “burqa babes” calendar… I know what I’m putting in his Christmas stocking! 😉

UNCLE REGGIE

Again…with the roads. I have to say that if Reggie ever decides to work outside the US he’d have more work building roads than he’d know what to do with! What’s crazy about Mazar is that even though the government has graveled many of the roads, the omnipresent wind, Spring rains etc. conspire to drive the gravel under the surface of the road – creating wide,  slick, mushy surfaces that swallow shoes whole! Not to mention sending cars into the open canals (drainage ditches) on either side of the road. 

The road I live on is graveled and though it isn’t far off the beaten path it takes at least five minutes to get to the main road. Then again, our drivers are conservative…which is good considering that people DO NOT EVER look where they are going. They’ll wander out into the main road just assuming that the cars will pass them by.

The closest call I have had was just yesterday. I was returning to the office and as we neared it (going maybe 7 MPH) a child ran out of a local store and straight into the side of our car, near the front bumper. My heart nearly stopped as I considered what might have been had our driver been going a bit faster or taken a bit longer to get down the road. I can still hear the child’s hands slamming into the side of the car to fend it off. In these moments I’m grateful for the terrible roads!

UNCLE MARLAND

Ever the gun enthusiast…I could likely get him on the range with a local military man testing everything from AK47s to ….well, that’s kinda the extent of my gun knowledge!  I have, however, bonded with a colleague in Kabul over our uncles and their crazy collections!

UNCLE TED

Corps of Engineers?!? Boy, do I have a project for you! Won’t give it away entirely, but I really could use his help with some surveying. There is no end to what he could t do here with infrastructure – loads to be done….and a governor willing to do it, as long as funding can be secured. On that front the governor is exceedingly clever – allowing  business men who fix-up, pave etc. major roads to rename them. He’s making things happen…so, think about it uncle! Mazar really is nice this time of year! 🙂

So, whether’s is the handy ones who can fix anything; the hard working ones who builds roads (that actually stay built!) or furnices; the linguistically advance well-traveled one is never home when I call; etc. I’ve thought of, and spoken of them all! Love you guys and iss you guys! Come visit any time!