Actually. Saying Goodbye twice is worse.
Because of the sensitivity of some trolls (Mil.Spouses) and for reasons on OPSEC - this post might be slightly vague & possibly limited in scope; but I believe the jist of it will be clear. Maybe.
If the beginning of this military separation (I'm not fooling anyone with the use of 'separation', am I?) is anything to go by.....this will be one hell of a ride! The day of the sixth I prepared myself to say Goodbye. I did. It was unpleasant and the puppy made it harder. I swear it was something out of the 'Support the Troops' page - the puppy sitting quietly and still, as he watched his owner walk slowly away and he refused to move until Parker was completely out of sight.
Oh God. It was heart-breaking. I prefer to keep moving away; determined not to look back. But the puppy stayed at attention until there was nothing left to see. *cue the tears*
We drove home and immediately called family and friends to announce that the package was, indeed, in route. Or so we thought.
The phone rings. *gulp* " Babe, I need you to pick me up"....." WHAT!?!?!?!"..... The official & sanitized reason is, " People are f-ing stupid". The real reason is plain - military regs require military personnel and dependents who are flying on military transports to be checked in not less than 1 hour & 15 mins before the flight takes off. Our resident military member arrived at the gate at 1 hour & 17 minutes. TWO minutes too late. * cue hysteria*
At approx. 1230 am, yours truly was in the car; with the puppy; a strong cup of coffee and absolutely NO IDEA how I was going to get to BWI, as I had no GPS or any experience driving 3.5 hours North of my home. At 1230 in the morning.
A few things I must add here
1. I'm night blind
2. I'm night blind.
3. I have no GPS and my Mapquest directions didn't print clearly enough to read because the ink ran out.
4. Just north of Richmond (and 2.5 hours from BWI) I ran into a massive storm front - pouring rain, high winds and limited visibility.
5. FOG.
6. NO idea where I'm going.
7. I'm night blind and haven't slept since 0830 the previous morning.
This can't end well.
I can't Thank my Mom enough for staying on the phone with me as I drove - keeping me awake and calming my nerves as I crept up the Interstate while being boxed in and nearly run over by numerous big rigs.
As I approached the first hurdle - D.C. - I realized this was a really bad idea. Pouring rain.....no way to see more than 10 ft. in front of the car, going 70. This is not good.
The next hour and half was spent doing the following.....
- Screaming at Parker on the phone - he was my GPS and my ONLY way to navigate through DC at 2:30 in the morning.
- I hit construction....no road markers, no signs....and a lot of guessing.
- Hit a pothole at 70 while the car next to me swerved into my lane....AHHHHHHHHH, I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!!!
- Navigating the BWI beltway.....in the rain.....with Parker barking directions and losing the connection as I hit a major junction. FUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKKK. Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe.....LEFT!!!!!!!!
- Chain smoking my way to BWI.
- Making it to BWI....minus my sanity.
Hugs, laughs and one swift punch to Parker's arm....we left the airport....again. This time plus one.
A military wife somewhere is going to read this and say, " Really? You are so lucky to have him home for one more day and night. Be grateful". And I was. But all I could think about was having to say Goodbye. Again.
Needless to say, the package took off without further incident in the early hours of Thursday morning. With an extra night of snuggles and love. *don't you judge me*
I realized that this is our life. These are the crazy adventures that make my life with him so amazing; despite the damaging affect it may have on my calm.
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Safe travels My love.
I'm here.
And always willing to come and get you, no matter where you land.
I got this.
