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[humor me - play the music]

But first an explanation…

It’s a concept brainstormed by the higher brass – the main purpose of which is to gather soldiers & their families together for a day of forced fun & frivolity in the hopes it will alleviate stress, loneliness & isolation.

Back in the states, these days fall through-out the year fairly regularly – and truth be told, they do the same here. But the difference is that here they also assign Mandatory Fun Days on holidays – like Thanksgiving.

Which is understandable when you take into account that only 10% of soldiers have their families here, that they’re half a world away from home, away from family & friends…without access to a decent pumpkin pie.

It isn’t like a company picnic where you could scam out of going altogether or maybe just show-up to shake hands & leave - no, this is their stationed place of duty for the day. A requirement.

And as such an unspoken requirement for families – which is why my Thanksgiving dinner (usually eaten around 1pm) had to be completely finished by 7am so we could make it to the field for our Mandatory Fun Day…

Flag football – Enlisted vs. Officers

First comes the formation – accounting for everyone, chiding those that are late (like us – don’t ask) and the obligatory commander’s speech.

But then the fun finally starts as the Enlisted elect to receive the ball, giving kick-off to the Officers.

AAaaaaahhhhhhhhh…….Boom!

Our game comes complete with field-walking announcer calling out the plays, cracking jokes, trying to keep people interested…and keep score.

The Enlisted guys huddle round to figure out how best to humiliate the Officers.

Plotting strategies, arguing who’ll run this touchdown…who’ll run the next.

(Apparently our enlisted guys are the #1 flag football team on the peninsula.)

As the gridiron lines up, the Enlisted look relaxed…at ease.

Ain’t nothin’ new, baby.

The Officers?…

Well, love the “gggrrrr”’ face of the one on the left – utter determination to show these enlisted guys a thing or two. You can almost smell the high school glory days rising off of him.

While the officer on the right seems to be realizing maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to volunteer to play today & is apparently backing-up a step or two – subconsciously attempting to sneak off.

Balls are thrown…passes caught…cheers go out as the Enlisted run up the field scoring back to back touchdowns.

Oh, everything’s on the up & up – we’ve got a ref to keep things official.

The Officers huddle round.

I imagine them discussing logistics, debating whether or not a surge would work, wondering where their reinforcements are… and asking if anyone knows how to read the play book.

‘Hmm….let’s see…’

The Officers finally have the ball again & have decided to go with a ‘Shock & Awe’ campaign.

And it worked…

We were all shocked & awed to see how easily they were stopped within 3 feet of the linemen.

The linemen?…Not so shocked.

It’s second down.

The Officers still have the ball.

Suddenly they surge up the field, flying past enlisted man after enlisted man.

He’s going…he’s going…HE’S GOING…!!!!!

Oooohhhh! Touchdown officers!

See?…A surge does work….much to the dismay of the Enlisted.

[Wwhhhrrrreeeee....wwwwhhhhrrrreeee.....wwwwwhhhhrrrreeeee]

Looks like we’ve got a man down.

No injury…turned out to be a charley horse.

Tensions relax as it’s obvious the Officers will never catch-up to the Enlisted’s almost continuous touchdown runs.

The Enlisted are all smiles & start to ask the kids in the stands if they’d like to come fill in for them on a play.

The special teams stand on the sidelines – waiting for their next chance to return a touchdown.

And we stand in the bleachers…braving the cold & wind….thinking how some warm homemade rolls would be really good about now.

While the boys warm-up along the sidelines…anxiously awaiting to be asked to take a turn in the game.

All in all a good day….no worse than yesterday.

[Music by Flogging Molly]