I'm kinda at a loss for words...and not in the panic-stricken, oh my goodness, he's going into harm's way! Instead, it's the very rational thoughts that come to mind. "It's not like he's dying - he's just deploying." "This is his job." While yes, he does fly around in an aircraft that can malfunction, they do practice their "ditching" regularly (it's not like a jet where you just pull a cord and you're ejected into safety, they require the hatch to be pulled <think school bus roof exit), and there are issues that can claim his life. Buuuut that shit can easily happen on land as it can at sea. So why should I worry on deployment when he can easily push daisies when 30 minutes from home??
As a "member" of the "Knives Group," thankfully I'm privy to all sorts of information as we prepare for this fun time of sequestration meets deployment. How long will they actually be gone? *cue laughing* And thankfully, we have plenty of salty wives who have many boat stints under their belt who can help us n00bs get our shit together before they actually fly-out (probably at like 6:00am, because tears of goodbye are always better with crusty lashes and bad breath).
There's the HAVE YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEYS!, HAVE YOUR FELLOW LADIES ON SPEED DIAL!, HAVE A NOTE IN YOUR WALLET STATING YOU'RE A NAVAL OFFICER'S WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND TO PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER'S WIFE! Okay, that's sound advice right there. If I'm maimed, calling an 850 number that's turned off and in the bunk of the USS Awesome won't get you anywhere.
And there's the "Let's make awesome care packages for the squadron!"
Screech....umm...what??
CARE PACKAGES!
Ohhhhh.....riiiiight. Care packages. Those things which explode scrapbooking paper, cake in jars (<the only cool thing I've seen), candy, cards, pictures, magazines, probably hidden dirty pictures, and a lot of USPS mailing boxes. I assume they're helpful for those in the sandpits of the Middle East where gunfire is the norm, showers are probably rare, and all I think about is The Hurtlocker. But that's not exactly our situation. He's in the Navy...on a boat. Yes, gunfire at the aircraft can and does happen. Yes, planes explode right on the flight deck! There are hazards even with a Naval deployment, but it's just not the same. Plus...my inner "male thinking" comes to mind. You're in the military...deployments are what you do. You want me to send you care packages when you're just doing your job? Insert reader comments about how non-caring I am. It's not that I don't care - I just can't get into the glitter, jazz hands, and undying need to send things.
And thankfully we've had the discussion about Do you want them once a month? What do you want them to contain? Do I even need to do them?
We've agreed - they'll be sent as needed. Should he run out of jerky, magazines for the toilet (although he has a damn tablet, so what else do you need?), deoderant, good underwear, and who knows what else.....I'll send out a non-decorated box to his need. Because why spend money on decoration when it's just going in the trash? And of course, there will be the obligatory ones: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 'MERICA!! (4th of July), HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY ON THE BOAT! (2 years in a row), Happy Start of Oregon State Football Season 2013, and HOLY SHIT, NYC FOR MY 30TH WAS AMAZEBALLS. :)
And the potential deployment date (I say 'potential' because we are amidst sequestration) is on the calendar and now within reach. It used to be months away, and then before we were even close, was pushed back farther than an elephant's gestational period. Seriously...your time has come...DEPLOY ALREADY. I want my gift (*coughJadeearringscough*). Mr. Wookie has been in the Navy since 2007 and has yet to see an actual deployment - do you know what it's like compared to fellow aviators? Most have seen (on average) 2 real deployments (not detachments or surges, but the 6-7+ month kind). And here we are....over 2.5 years into a sea tour....without a tour of the sea. He's ready. The squadron is ready. Port calls, Lord have Mercy.
So maybe it's the green behind my ears, or maybe I'm just being my ol' ration self (seriously, welcome back Mrs. Wookie!), but this is not the end of the world. It may be for my liver...but you can always get a new one (hello, that Apple guy totally bought new body parts on the Black Market)! Life will be the same here. I'll wake up each morning, race out the door to work, over-stress in my department (sales and marketing), and then come home for my dinner-for-one and bottle-each-night of wine. Shower, rinse, repeat.
And yesssss, that whole 'fuck, I'm bored already' has been fixed. Two words: weekend projects. There's that chair to recover still (I'm telling you, I was in an absolute FUNK with our dog dying), I'm going to make a custom wreath for our front door so I can take off the Christmas one (redneck? yup!), there's a few Pinterest projects which will take some time and energy (shhhhh!!), I have family visiting for a long weekend in May, there are beach trips to be had, sunscreen to be lathered, Oregon to be visited in July, less sunscreen lathered then, and a shit-ton of library trips.
How did I find such a lucky match to my non-typical housemate thought process? I don't know.
Happy Pending Deployment, babe! Now remember: Non-nickel earrings....kthanksnowbye!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is my first deployment (and my husband's), and so far I'm not bothered that he's gone. Like you said, it's his job. Does it suck not having him home? absolutely. Do I miss him? Tons and tons and tons. But I know he's safe under the water in the middle of godknowswhere.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he gave me NO help whatsoever in regards to his halfway box. Do you want any specific snacks? "nah, I don't care". Letters from a specific family member? "whatever they feel like doing."
I'm trying to do something nice for you, damnit, help me out a little!
Thank GOODNESS I'm not alone in my thoughts!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's not the same not talking to a human after 5pm - but I'll be just fine (had he deployed right after the dog passed, I probably would need institutionalization). Yay for wine, pizza on Friday nights, and hammock time. :)
I just sent J off on his first deployment today, so this made me laugh. The anxiety of impeding deployment is much worse than the deployment itself (although ours has been one hour thus far). The toughest part was packing! The Navy wanted him to bring all his uniforms, which meant every gosh darn shoe on earth. Brown boots, black boots, brown shoes, white shoes....I'm still shocked at our ability to pack his large bag at 70 pounds exactly. The Navy is all about ze fashion.
ReplyDeleteJ won't be gone very long (he's meeting his squadron at the tail end of their deployment), so I'll probably only send one care package. He wants healthy things like granola bars. I'll probably pack in some magazines, but decorating the box is not a priority.
p.s. seriously contemplating a hammock on our third floor balcony.
Haha - @Jillian, I firmly believe in the Church of the Hammock. Back when we didn't know our FitRep cycle outcome, we dreamed of days in San Diego...high-rise living...hammock on the balcony...I would totally do it. :)
ReplyDelete