Embracing Change

"Originally published by the New York Times on May 7th, 2006


I am not a creature of habit for the most part. I thrive on change. I embrace it. I love change so much I plan for it. I seek it out. In my 34 years, I have resided in New Orleans, Georgia, Utah, Montana, Tennessee, and North Carolina. I have visited almost every state in the country, and have been to London, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, and Panama. I have rented countless apartments and houses. I have had countless jobs. I have made countless road trips, sometimes from Montana or Utah down to New Orleans several times a year.


It is said that change is the only constant. Even though I believed that already, the last year and a half of my life has really driven the point home. My attitude about American life has changed. I now cherish it more than ever. My understanding of war has changed. My feelings toward the Iraqi people have changed. Before coming to Iraq, I didn’t know much except that some Muslims were terrorists and many of them were afraid of their own government. Now I have images of Iraq burned into my memory that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.


And the family I conjure up in all my childhood memories has changed dramatically."
Wordsmith at War