Life in the military (or in my case as a dependent - we won't get me started on calling me a dependent) can sometimes be very hard. We move frequently - which means that the people we meet will only be in our lives for such a short time. In that short time though, we are able to bond so fast and so deeply. We live through the same horrors, and we celebrate the same victories. It is bittersweet to say goodbye, but at the same time, with a career field so small as ours, we will more than likely see them again.
Ok - before I go too much into this, I should first say that I am sorry if I use any acronyms and forget to explain what they are. The lingo becomes second nature and you forget sometimes that everyone doesn't spend their lives spewing out letters of the alphabet instead of talking in complete sentences. For reference to this blog - and many more to come - a TDY is a temporary duty. Usually this is a trip somewhere. You are not changing where you are stationed. That would be a PCS - Permanent Change of Station. A TDY just sends you somewhere for awhile. It could be as little as a day up to months at a time. It can be to foreign countries, or right here in our own backyard. Either way, it means he is gone and not coming home at night.
As a military wife/family we understand how important it is to stick together. Deployments and sometimes even TDYs can be scary. You hear rumors and watch the news and wonder. Back in 2003, there were very little lines of communication. I can remember letters taking 3-4 weeks to go back and forth. No email and no phone calls. I can only imagine how my Grandma felt when it was my Grandpa during WWII and it was years - not weeks. You spend your life sitting in front of the TV watching the news. Hoping to catch a glimpse of your loved one in the background walking by, but then praying to God that he is not one injured and being worked on. Then you beat yourself up when you hear that someone else's husband was hurt or killed and you find yourself thanking God that it wasn't yours. I know it is only natural to think that way, because our hearts do break with those people who are living that nightmare and we try to support them as much as possible, but like I said, we also feel guilty for secretly being so grateful that our loved one is still ok. Going through these ups and downs, these emotional roller coasters makes you form friendships that will literally touch your heart and soul.
With this said, it is hard to say good bye. Sometimes you are the one leaving, sometimes you are the one being left. This week, I am the one being left. This week, I will be saying good bye to a dear friend who had shared baby stories, teething, walking, and diapers and everything else baby related with me and also deployments, and a bazillion TDYs (think at least 1 week out of every month, and many months it was 2 weeks a month) and did I mention that she is just cool to hang out with and have a drink. Although I will miss them greatly, I am so happy for them too. Their new duty station will place them close to home, and that is what we all long and wish for. So, Erika, Seam, and Skylar......you will be missed greatly, and I hope to see you all again one day. In the meantime, thank God for Facebook!!!!!!
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