Gone again

Another trip.  I hate it when Tim leaves.  Luckily he will only be gone for 2 weeks.

I was watching the Season finale of Army Wives this morning and it brought back memories of when Tim was deployed.  The first time Tim left, it was for basic training and AIT.  I cried and cried when I left him at the airport.  Seven months seemed like forever.  We were able to talk daily when he got to AIT and I was able to go out for a July 4th weekend to visit him.  But it was a long, long time for me back then.

Little did I know that in a couple of years he would be gone for 15 months.  I remember when he called me to tell me he was being deployed.  There had been rumors for a while, but I didn't think much of it.  We were in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving - Tim's mom and aunt and uncle had decided to go there (they were in California at the time) so we met up with them there.  The day after Thanksgiving, Tim offered to watch Ster while I went shopping with Mom and Aunt Carol.  (He had this grin on his face when I left - he knew that his aunt would kick my butt shopping and she did.  I have NEVER been shopping with someone like her.  She was go go go and wouldn't stop).  Anyway, we were at the outlet mall when Tim called his mom's cell phone to let me know.  There we stood in the middle of the store and I was bawling and hugging Tim's aunt (don't know why his aunt and not his mom).  The next 5-6 weeks seemed to go by so fast.  When it finally came time for them to deploy, it was Sunday, January 3, 2004.  They left early evening - so we had the day to spend with him.  I remember being in the hanger with my family and a couple of friends - and feeling the dread and panic of being alone for who knew how long.  All we knew at that point was that he was to go to Fort Carson for 3-4 months and then in Afghanistan for 12 months.  Ster and I have always had issues and Tim was always there to smooth things over.  Ster was a big daddy's boy and only calmed down for Tim.  So I was scared spitless to be dealing with it all alone.  I think I scared the crap out of our friend - because I was so panicked when Tim started to walk away and trying not to hyperventilate that he looked at me like I was freaking out.  I'm sure I was. 

Now the time from January 3, 2004 to mid-April 2005 - THAT was a long time!  We were able to see him a few times when he was still at Fort Carson and then again at Christmas - but it was way toooo long.

Tim leaves now and it is a quick kiss and hug and see ya later!  Of course, if he were to be gone for a year I'd be bawling my eyes out again.

I'm thankful he's in the Air National Guard - otherwise he would have had another 12 month deployment (they are keeping them to 12 months and not 15 months now) or two under his belt.  That, plus he would have been able to become an Apache pilot and there is NO WAY I would have survived that deployment without having a nervous breakdown.

More ramblings, I know.  But I'm sure missing my hubby and he hasn't even been gone all day!  It is going to be a long 2 weeks.