IRAQI FIVE-0

Iraqi FIVE-0.  Not quite the Hawaii FIVE-0 Steph and I had originally planned for our 50th Birthdays, but thanks to Steph, my family, and all my amazing friends- not too bad and will certainly be one of my most memorable birthdays!

First, Steph started off the birthday week with some nice outings and adventures for Flat Brad back home.  She began with an awesome surprise birthday party for me at Maricopa Medical Center at the resident conference on Wednesday with my colleagues and the residents, complete with birthday cakes.  I was even able to video conference in as well!

Next, it was off to adventures at Angel's Trumpet (with owner and Lloyd Fox's sister Sharry and her husband Matt), followed by a trip to Molly Butler's in Greer, and capped off with a nice evening at the cabin shared with Bob and Nancy Kersey!  Thanks Steph and Morgan for the adventure back home!

In Iraq, "real Brad" had an awesome day as well.  I was able to video call family on my birthday and received a nice video happy birthday song.  To keep in line with my groundhog day theme, even on my 50th birthday, I started off with my usual workout, and was able to finally go for a run after allowing my calf to heal for the last six weeks ("tennis calf" according to my orthopedic surgeon roommate:).  I got in my 8 hours of workouts on my 50th, while being on call and spending 3 hours teaching the Iraqi medics and touring their medical facility nearby.  They insisted that we stay for lunch, which was delicious!

Upon returning back to base, I was notified that I had "some" mail and the ER nurse who retrieved it from the post office said I "owed her big time."  Thanks to my amazing wife Steph in cahoots with my incredible group of family and friends (and a little luck I think thrown in as well), I received 55 cards on my actual birthday in Iraq!  WOW!  Thank you all and thanks to Steph for organizing!  That really was amazing and I will certainly never forget the outpouring of love and friendship that surrounded me on my Iraqi FIVE-0 from around the globe!

After opening up and reading all 55 cards (plus the 7 I had received before my birthday and opening up three gifts as well), I did my Yoga X (I am 50 after all now and need to keep in shape and limber to prevent injuries:) and went off to teach my Friday spin class.  Low and behold, the gym personnel had also decided to help me celebrate my Iraqi FIVE-0 with balloons and 2 cakes!

After spin class and dinner, I called my family again to celebrate some more and they had sent me more presents online!  This was followed by a trip to the ER to share my cakes with the Role 2 hospital staff where I was greeted with Happy Birthday (in English and Spanish) and some humorous "old man" presents from my Navy colleagues.

The night was capped off with a TAB, some Reese's, and half a cigar, smoked with my anesthesia colleague who also turned 50 during this deployment.  Wow!  Thanks to all, but especially Steph, for making my Iraqi FIVE-0 certainly one of my most memorable birthdays EVER!







Finally, on a more somber note, I want to say Fair Winds and Following Sea's to Senator John McCain, who passed away with his family at his side after faithfully serving our country and our great state for over 60 years! RIP Senator McCain.