My life, my dominion

Just the other day i couldn't help but feel immense pride, and jealousy all at the same time.

I had witnessed by unit's men at their Black Beret presentation.

I never had anything that grand when i got my beret which in reality, means a whole lot to me than my pips.

FOr me and soon the men, the black beret will represent a universal brotherhood.

We the modern cavalry, the new knights of the battlefield.

We the armour.

For us, the black beret is not a means of distinction but a recognition of solidarity. Solidarity earned through the common experience that we will all share.

They may be simple, but oh how we will remember them. Ask anyone and he will tell you the same story of greasy nights, screaming out in the field, the dust in your face and the choking smell of diesel, lubricant and mud all mingled together.

There is a strange bond that is forged between man and machine, and man and man.

The 11 men who squeeze into the steel box of wheels that others scorn as the moving coffin are like family, brothers literally in arms. Should anything happen, they will most likely die together, both literally and figuratively. The vehicle is THEIR's. Unlike the airforce when it's one man to his machine, or the navy where it is one crew to their ship, this is one vehicle one family. In a strange way it is like the family car that no one wants to sell.

I can tell you that whenever we take pictures, we scramble for our own vehicles. When we curse we curse our own vehicles and when any other dares to say anything else it's as good as spitting in your face.

And i have pride in that. I hated my life before, i hate it now, but i will always have the pride. Every family is dysfunctional on the inside, but what counts is what they do in the face of others.

And the envy.
I never got the chance to drive my vehicle, let alone parade in front of my parents.
Strange, sure i was proud when i commission. But really there was one moment in that parade one moment in that day that i knew meant that we would have traded that moment for another just like my men's. When it came to tossing our hats everyone did it three four five times. Everyone noticed it, they laughed as they saw groups of boys coming together, tossing their hats, dispersing to retrieve them and then come together just to do the same.

But we didn't. We tossed it once then affixed the berets to our head. The beret was sacred and something that we didn't want to risk ever touching the ground. The others never had much chance to wear the beret, for the past five months they wore caps. We were different, the berets had gone with us through hell and back. They were sacred not some toy you tossed in joy.

we were proud.

And to end things off as is now the trend.

I GOT A DIGITAL CAMERA!!!!!

A PANASONIC LUMIX (not the chio sleek one but its still a good camera!!!)

WOO HOO!

and and and, i have 1 256mb card!!!! WOO HOO HOO HOO!
i am going to just snap away!!!!