Would I ever be so lucky to have one complete year with my husband and without dog puke? Well, not this year. As most of you know, Jim came back from Afghanistan Feb 9th 2011. What an amazing day.
Cue scene from days leading up to and including Feb 9th: I was a nervous wreck. Every time someone would find out Jim was due back, they would ask the notorious question of “Are you excited?” Well, okay, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT? My husband has been deployed for a year and you are asking me if I’m excited? Of course. There is a point of hesitation though, that most military wives take due to them not actually in the safe zone until their husband actually steps on U.S. soil. After 350 days and nights of worrying, we are able to finally take one giant deep breath as he deplanes and say, “We made it through.” To me, it is not really a feeling of excitement but more of relief. We had made it through the black-outs, call-downs, static satellite telephone calls, vet visits, doctor visits, the-house-is-falling-down kind of days, and the sting of loneliness every single night that we were apart.
The week before Jim came home I was busy readying everything to be in place so I could avoid all house-cleaning for the first week of him being home. I wanted to enjoy him without the worry of the miniscule everyday details. When the chores were complete, I made six dozen hugs and kiss cookies for the soldiers. Most of the wives decide to provide a bit of refreshments for them as they checked in gear at the battalion. After baking, I was able to worry about more important things, such as hair, nails, and outfit. I chose a basic outfit due to cold temps that day, clear polish due to my picking off any speck of color from nerves, and curled my hair due to lack of anything else to do that morning.
I left for the bus about an hour and forty minutes early so as not to miss it. My dear friend and photography greeted me out at the hanger and we decided were to sit so as to provide a clear view of Jim when he walked in as well as ease for him to pick me out of the crowd. Naturally, I picked the front so when he walked in, he could look forward as they are required to do, and still see me.
T-minus 1 Minute
As the soldiers filed into the hanger and stopped just before the stage, I had a minute to search the sea of ACU uniforms. And there, just two or three rows back, I saw that smile. There he was. My eyes locked on his for just a moment and it was magic. It was like at that exact moment, we were both thinking, “Hi...we made it.” After a torturous five minutes, the soldiers were released and here he came, walking toward me. It was the best moment of my life, aside from the moment we were married. He was home and safe...little did I know...
Yep folks, he’s gone again. This time it is only for twenty-two days and it is stateside so you and I can still breathe. Yesterday we left for the airport around 8 a.m. for his departure of 10:35 with flight arrival in Fayetteville, NC. I don’t think saying goodbye gets any easier no matter the amount of times we say it. As long as it is a loved one, it hurts. It hurts like a splinter in your left pinky finger. I can say, ladies and gentlemen, I did not shed one tear at that terminal...I was a least a good five minutes on my way back home. I must say, this gets a bit old...the goodbyes I mean. Unfortunately in Jim’s profession, they happen more often than not and after almost six and a half years of our togetherness I am getting pretty used to it.
Oh, and the whole thing about dog puke, yea. I just think it’s in his DNA...to puke ALL THE TIME. Hey, I guess I can say I’m pretty prepared for child rearing.
Until Tomorrow,
LOVELOVE
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