I'm the first to admit that this tour has not brought out the best in me. I've been pessimistic, depressed, cranky, angry, abusive, rude, lazy, and insensitive... sometimes all at once!
But there have been a few bright sides to deployment. One of my favorites is the way that long separations have encouraged my husband and I to write each other love letters. (Okay, really they're love emails, but still. Work with me here.)
Take, for example, this excerpt from a message I received from my husband just moments ago:
"...Know that I love you. Deep, abiding love. Love that makes me warm when I think of you. Love that brightens even the darkest moments of my life. Love that keeps me going through long separations. Love that gives meaning to the work that I do. Love that makes me a better person.
Your adoring husband"
All together now... Awwww.
Now, these aren't the kind of sentiments that we casually toss across the dinner table. But since we have not seen each other for days, weeks, months, a whole season and then some, the CDR and I have realized the true depth and breadth of our love. And I'm not sure we would have made such a discovery while chatting about our day during supper.
Maybe deployment isn't so bad after all.
I will be bookmarking this and reading it over and over next year. Only I'll change the CDR to LT. ;)
I hope this letter sustains you for a long time, Christine!! I only have an inkling of an idea of what it's like to be alone with two kids for as long as you are (what's six weeks compared to three months?) - and sentiments like this do so much to boost your mood.
Thinking of you all.
Posted by: Jill | September 19, 2008 at 08:23 AM
what gets me through? ice cream.
and knowing that people can find love like that.
Posted by: tara | September 20, 2008 at 12:40 AM
i might possibly react to renee this way if you gave her the recipe to french silk pie. ;)
Posted by: Mike | September 24, 2008 at 08:14 PM
happy love!
Posted by: Anna at Hank & Willie | October 01, 2008 at 09:04 AM