Payday and other postal holidays...

I got my first full paycheck today. It was weird, usually there is so much stuff taken out of it. But not here. They did take $15.91 for health insurance. Don't let anyone fool you, people are here for the money. Back home they may talk about the noble concept of  "supporting the troops" but, in truth  we are all mercenaries. Doing a job that most people don't want to do, in a place most people would prefer not to be in. But, having talked to many people here, it seems that they are on their second or third "contract." They have been to Iraq and Kuwait and worked for KBR or out in the gulf on an oil rig or some other DOD type contract job. I can totally understand it. I'm a month and a half into it and I'm thinking,"How do you go back to a normal job after this?" Especially people that are making $90-100K here,when back home they'd be lucky to make 40k. Like any other place there is complaining but the vast majority of people are happy here. Every day is a challenge and, I think people like meeting and overcoming those challenges. I know I am. I get frustrated, then I think of something or someone helps me out or I read a policy or like a blind squirrel occasionally finding a nut, I solve the problem.
Another rocket attack last night. No deaths, no injuries. We were in the bunker for an hour Someone brought their computer to finish watching "The Wolfman." What a sucky movie; but we were literally a captive audience. So we all watched it. At one point during a tense part of the movie where the doctors are doing experiments on the wolfman,  a voice from the dark called out, "oh, this isn't gonna end well." Made me laugh.
As I was walking to the Post Office to mail some letters, I was asked,"Why are there stamps on those letters?" A strange, possibly trick, question. "Ummm, so the post office delivers them?" I said. Now, remember this place ain't normal. So weird questions are the norm. This is the place that during a rocket attack, I had my patient on the ground and I was laying on the ground next to her with my arm up trying to keep her I V running, when I thought ,"this is a really stupid way to die." "We're sorry your son is dead, Mrs. Caplin, but at least he kept salt water running into that woman's arm." Anyway, turns out that letters are free here. You just right "free mail" where the stamps go. Who'd a thunk it? So, if you'll excuse me I have to go mail the $100 in stamps home that I bought before I came here.....