I’m not sure how many of you know this but my hubs is a Veteran of the United States Air Force. When we met in 2003, he was still active duty. We met at beginning of the month and almost 3 weeks later, he was deploying to the “sandbox” (aka danger zone Iraq). The deployment was to last 4-5 months. We decided to keep in touch during his deployment and get to know each other better via email and a rare phone call or two.
Upon his return, we got together and one thing led to another, a year later we were married, about a month prior to another deployment to the “sandbox”. The first deployment wasn’t the hard on me, as we did not know each other that long. The second deployment, being we were married, was different. I had never been exposed to the military life nor all that comes along with it.
Trust me, it’s not a good life…or might I say, wasn’t the life for me.
There were 1 or 2 more deployments back to the “sandbox” and each one got worse. By the third one I said “Either you’re going to retire or we’re getting divorced.” Harsh? Maybe but as someone he waited until 35 years old to get married, I didn’t want a part-time hubs nor the stress of wondering if my hubs was going to come home alive or in a body bag.
His last deployment did him and he was ready to retire. Did I haven’t anything to do with it? I don’t know but I’m glad he did it. He retired with almost 22 years of service.
YES! I have a full-time hubs now!
For the past 6 years, we have been up each others bums. No time apart except for going to work and once when I stayed overnight in a hotel for my high school reunion.
This week, his daughter is graduating from high school. She has invited family members to come see it. Being she lives in the mid-west and us on the east coast, hubs was flying out to see the graduation and spend time with her and his family for a few days. No biggy right?
Although the thought of having the house to myself, other than my dog, and NO SNORING by 730 pm at night, there was a bit of fear.
Fear that something would happen to the plane. You know, we live in the age of terrorism unfortunately and a world of butt ass crazy people who would do anything to cause harm. So I was on pins and needles the whole time he was prepping to fly, on the flight, and anxiously awaiting his confirmation he landed. Shew!
But prior to him leaving and watching him prepare his luggage and personal items, it brought back prepping for military deployments. I didn’t say anything to him but it’s just a sense of uneasiness thinking “What if he doesn’t return?” I’ve had family members ripped from my life without notice. I always say the “I love you’s” in the morning and evening before going to sleep. You just never know!
Life is so totally precious and too many people take it for granted!
So the hubs is away and I hope he enjoys his visit. For the next several days, my dog and I will be living the high life without daddy around.
The fear will come rushing back right before he boards the plane to come home and I’ll anxiously await his arrival home. Just him, not his snoring!
Now I turn it over to you.
Were you or are you involved in the military life and how did you handle deployments and your spouses absence? Did you embrace it? Did it freak you out, especially if your spouse was in a known active danger zone?
What about the non-military life but yet your spouse travels for business or personal with their pals. Do you stop and think, “What if this is the last time I see him/her?”
Feature Image courtesy of Rosemary Ratcliff/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
