Our section does PT (physical training) as a group three times a week, op tempo permitting. It’s been getting hot lately. Average temperature during the afternoons when we do our PT is about 115-130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Today we went swimming in one of Saddam’s pools.
Near the pool is a large bird cage. I assume the birds were there during Saddam’s rule of Iraq. The inhabitants of the cage are song birds. These tiny, chirpy colorful little characters are always singing different little tunes.
Today, I noticed they were not singing. I also noticed a large fan had been set up near the cage, so I went over to take a look. I was greeted by an alien sight that really burned itself into my head. Whoever cares for the birds was thoughtful enough to have taken the time to freeze a number of plastic water bottles. The birds’ caretaker carefully placed these frozen bottles throughout the different partitions within the cage. The birds had gathered around cool bottles in little circles and were happily enjoying the cold flowing from the bottles’ surfaces. The sight of these little flocks of pink, blue, yellow and teal birds gathered in their circles was amazing. I wish I could spend an afternoon huddled around a cool air flow with my friends, socializing.
Maybe in a few months.