HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTOR!!!

Alright guys, I have lots to “disclose”, if you will. First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTOR! Victor turns 30 on Sunday (that’s a few hours from now here in Al Assad, Iraq) and I want to take a few moments to pay homage to my best male friend (I make the distinction from Jan, my best female friend)…

I still remember the first night that I walked into Shampoo Night Club in Philadelphia. It was an “alternative” night and walking into this club alone was somewhat intimidating, as a bunch of heads turned – “Who was this new guy in town walking into this place all confident?” I had moved from Miami to start Medical School at PCOM, left my most serious relationship of 6 months back in Florida and ventured out to “start a new life”. I was stressed about having to find an apartment in this new town and I decided to have a night out on the town by myself (like I would occasionally do in South Beach when I was stressed from Grad School). Anyway, I entered the club wearing my typical Miami garb – I think it must have been some black Kenneth Cole pants and a tight silver Armani short sleeve shirt. I was sporting a pretty fierce tan and I felt confident that I could pull off this outfit given I was in the best shape of my life at the time - until a deployment to Iraq happened, but I digress. I revealed my nervousness to no one and instead marched confidently up the stairs to the bar. This was the first night I had gone out since my Miami departure. The reason for this was because I made the choice to “leave the R.J. of Miami in Florida and I was going to start over, fresh. What happened down there stayed down there. That wasn’t me. That was someone that was confused.” But alas, after several weeks of this “rebirth”, I caved in and decided I needed to go out. [I can still remember the call I placed to the Operator from my mom’s house in Bethlehem an hour north of Philly. The 411 Operator came on and said, “Can I help you?” and I replied, “I need you to give me the number of some ‘alternative’ bars and clubs in Philly…” She was like, “Excuse me?” …lol, a week later, I found myself in Shampoo.]

Anyway, I walked up to the bar to order a drink and the bartender - this very fit Puerto Rican guy with a huge smile approached me. I think he recognized I was alone and somewhat nervous and he said, “Hey, what’s up, I’m Victor, can I get you something?” All of a sudden I didn’t feel nervous ever again. Little did I know this guy was destined to become my confidant, my best friend. He bought me a drink and a shot (which also helped with my nerves) and we started talking. Not about the cross country drive from San Francisco to New Orleans that we would take 4 years later, not about the time a Hurricane hit Pensacola and we were forced (okay, ordered by the Naval Air Station in Pensacola) to stay on Bourbon street and party our asses off for an extra few days while it passed, not about the time that we went to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware or better still, the time that we stayed in the penthouse of ‘The Hotel at Mandalay Bay’ in Las Vegas. No, we didn’t mention how Victor would 4 years down the road convince me to “blow off” my first day of the 3rd year of Medical School to stay an extra night in South Beach, Miami to go to a Crobar party that we just couldn’t miss. We may have considered, on some unconscious level, that one day 3 years in the future we would get into a vile public display of yelling outside the subways of New York City because we stayed too late for a Parade, or that 7 years down the road we would have to endure a blizzard in New York City for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade (never will I stay in the Hotel Chelsea again – quaint you say? That place was a sty and that freaking’ dog kept waking me up). No, on that night in Shampoo he just listened to how I was stressed about finding an apartment and he comforted me. Little did I know that night that it would turn out to be the most rewarding friendship of my life. Victor, you’ve always been there for me. You’ve always listened. This past year in Hawaii you always listened as I complained about the endless number of fights I had with my last relationship. And when you wanted me to get out of the relationship and I couldn’t find a way out, you still said, “R.J., I support you”. That’s friendship. When I was broke during Grad School and I needed money to pay bills and you sent me a Western Union, you were there. (Don’t think I’ll ever forget that message that was attached though). That’s friendship. When the Calvary Temple tried to “convert me”, you were there, laughing and supporting me. That’s friendship. Whenever I’ve needed you most, you’ve been there for me, and it has truly been a comfort in my life. I wish you the happiest of birthdays ever and I can’t wait to wish you in person when we party our asses off in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICTOR!!!

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Next item of business: I wanted to take a minute and give out some addresses. Since they’re listed in the phone book I feel comfortable listing them here as well. The first is my mom’s address in Pennsylvania. If all else fails and I move, this one is reliable, because although I’ve been trying to get my dear old mom to move to Florida, I don’t think she’s going to be going anytime soon. She is

Pat Matyas
604B Briarwood Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18020

Next, my new address in Hawaii is:

Dr. Robert J. Matyas II
2465 Ala Wai Blvd.
Apt#902
Honolulu, HI 96815

The final address is of the new Flight Surgeon here in Al Asad:

LT Matthew Rainey
VMM-263 Medical
Unit 77062
FPO AE 09509-7062

I want to take a minute aside just for my friends at Soldier’s Angels. Without your support I never would have been able to make it through this deployment. June, Missy, Susan, Karen (Yamada and Zimmerman), Kathy, Roger, Debby, Melissa, Julie, just to name a few of you… you have been my wings that have allowed me to soar. Many of you have written and e-mailed me and asked to keep in touch. I’d like that very much – for you are friends that will be in my heart for the rest of my life. When I get weary or down, tired or just want to quit, I’ll remember you guys and how you’ve lifted me back up. Having said that, just as my mission is coming to a close – so is yours and there are other soldiers that need your time, your thoughts, your prayers, your letters and your warmth as much as I have appreciated it. While I would like very much to hear from you guys every once in a while – just remember that there are other Marines and Sailors that need you too. The new Osprey squadron is here and they’re nervous. All eyes are on them right now. The new Flight Surgeon has an even tougher job than I did and he’s looking for people to support him and his squadron. Please keep your love and support going. Enclosed above is his address. He would love to have the same support that you’ve shown me and I’d love to be able to say that the final thing I’ve given is some love in the SA variety. It’ll be hard to part ways with you all – but please keep in touch, either via my blog (which I’ll try to post to every once in a while – especially of my new car and trip to Mexico) or via my e-mail: rjmatyas@gmail.com. Please give me your full names and addresses (I’ll send you Christmas cards), if you like.

Alright, now for some silly RJ updates. First, my mom and I have decided that December is a terrible time to visit Ireland and there is a relative paucity of vacation packages for that time of year due to the poor weather that is typically forecast. So we’re putting the trip on hold until spring or summer of ’08. Instead, I’m going to take her to Atlantic City and try to get a suite in a nice hotel/casino for a night or two the week before Christmas when she has off. Maybe we’ll even go back to Hershey and get another massage like last time (that Chocolate bath was pretty amazing, wasn’t it mom?).

There was only 1 day of Strawberry Jell-O and now they’re back to orange. What a tease!
…and the biggest news of the day…

IT RAINED TODAY!!!! After 6 months of nothing but a clear blue sky devoid of any clouds (except for sandstorms), yesterday a cloud front came through. We were in so much awe it was as if a Solar Eclipse was occurring and occluding the sun. We all looked up at the sky in amazement. Then today – it poured down rain for several hours. It was awesome! I went outside and just stood in it – getting soaked. I jumped in a puddle. I got my shoes muddy. I could smell the scent of the rain and it was familiar and refreshing. It didn’t get any hotter than 80 degrees all day and I could tell that change was in the air (clouds actually represent change if you’re into symbolism). What’s ironic is the last name of our new Flight Surgeon who arrived just yesterday…lol…RAINEY.

Well, that’s it for now. It is my sincere hope that I didn’t offend or “lose” anyone because of my omissions at the beginning of this e-mail (I know this isn't any new news for my closest friends and family, but for anyone else reading...). If you’re good at reading between the lines you’ll know exactly what I mean. I wish I could be more forthcoming and not so elusive, but such is the state of the world today. I hope and pray that time will change that. Susan French sent me a card that reads “you have a very special gift to give – it’s called caring, and you aren’t afraid to share either yourself or your feelings…”, well this is one circumstance where “sharing myself” is something I AM afraid of, but the card also says “you’re honest, and you never pretend to be anything but yourself…” I wish this were 100% true, but here’s one aspect of my life that proves this statement to be false, although it is with much regret that I’m not more courageous than a blog confession…