Bouquet of Flowers

Moments like these make you realize even though you are miles and miles apart from the person you love, the distance doesn't matter.

My soldier was on a ruck march this day, I believe. I will probably use the term, "rucking" again, so let me go ahead and define it.  For all of you non-military people,  a ruck march is a long walk/jog/shuffle/run with a very heavy backpack the Army uses as a form of PT (physical training).  Ruck marches tend to vary in distance and time.

Bragging moment:  My soldier just did a 26 mile ruck march a few weeks ago.  I know, he's awesome.

Anyway, during a time of no contact, he was rucking one afternoon and stopped to pick me the best bouquet of flowers I have ever received!

Little things like this are really what makes the distance between us bearable.  I am really missing him today, especially since we did not get to spend the Thanksgiving holiday together.  Only 36 more days until we are reunited! HOORAY, or maybe I should say HOOAH (military slang for hell yeah!)?! 

Until Next Time.

Always.

     



The Rant

So, I gotta do it....the post that every military relationship can relate to.  Possibly the dumbest, most frequent question I hear when asked about my relationship.

Do you miss him? Are. You. Serious. Let me pause as I think about that one....

OF COURSE I MISS HIM YOU HONKY FOOL!

Here are my words of advice to all of you that have a friend that is going through a time of limited to zero contact, a deployment, a time where her whole world is temporarily turned upside down.  Do not ever, under any circumstances, ask these questions or make these statements:

1.  Refer to the question above.
2.  Wow, my boyfriend hasn't really made time for me lately either.   I've only seen him three times this week. ( I personally got that one when I had not even talked to my soldier in WEEKS.  I had to pull my jaw up from the floor.)
3.  My least favorite-How do you do it? I could never handle my man being gone all the time.

Let me break this down.

1.  Do you miss your significant other if they go away for a weekend or wish they were home for dinner when they have to work late?  Yes?  Try going weeks after weeks without seeing him or hearing his voice.  Never being able to make plans because everything changes on a daily basis, literally.  Next time you want to ask the dreaded question, don't.    

2.  I honestly cannot even come up with a nice way to break this down.  So I will abide by the-if you don't have anything nice keep your lips zipped-rule.  For your sake, don't ever be the one that says this to a woman who's husband is deployed.  You may (hopefully) get smacked.

3.  What the heck do you mean how do I do it?  Here it is: YOU JUST DO IT, Y'ALL.  Boom. Secret is out.  It's hard as hell but worth every second.  As my soldier said to me once, "Behind every great man, is a great woman."  Not saying I am a perfect girlfriend (I am absolutely far from it), but I do know one thing-not just anyone could do it.

I, along with other women in my position, really do love talking about what it's like to be in this type of relationship.  We like to brag about our men and their accomplishments!  But trust me, steer clear of those three statements-along with anything else insensitive- if you want your friendship to last.  Please and thank you.    

Sighhhhhhh-end rant.

Until Next Time.
Always.


             

What Do You Do When You Don't Know What To Do?

Long title, I know.  Is it a blogging no-no to have a long title?

Anyway.

The best words to describe my life right now-"I don't know."  About two weeks ago, I came to this realization-I am more than a military girlfriend waiting not so patiently to be a military wife.  Being an independent, strong-willed girl, I am surprised it took me this long to see all of the wonderful blessings in my life.  Let me explain.

My soldier and I have been rocking the long distance relationship for almost a year now.  Since he moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina (which is where the Army base-Fort Bragg- is located) I have had what I like to call tunnel vision.  The only thing I could see was my soldier.  Going back and forth with if, how, and when I would be able to move to Fort Bragg to be with him ASAP.  I am not kidding, these thoughts consumed my mind all the time-day and night.  For the majority of October, my soldier has been at Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS).  SFAS is basically a three week tryout to be apart of an elite group within the Army.  I will post about that later though.  During the three weeks, we had no contact and for some reason, the light bulb came on during the third week.

I am my own person. I have my own identity. I am so much more than a body connected to the military.

This realization has left me with a lot of scary thoughts.  Do I actually want to leave my southern roots and head to the east coast?  Do I want to allow the Army to tell me what I can and cannot do or where I can and cannot live?  How am I going to live with my husband being gone on frequent deployments, most with no contact?  How am I going to live this life?  Will I ever accept that this our future as a couple?  All of the questions have the same answer.

I just do not know.  

The only thing I know is that I love him very much.  That's enough to make it through everything, right?

Until Next Time. 

Always. 

      

My First (and hopefully not my last) Ever Blog Post

Well, as I sit here staring at my blank computer screen, typing my very first blog post, ready to spill my heart out to the world about my ups, downs, and all arounds with my letters signed, "Always," I cannot help but be nervous about what will unfold.  What are these letters, you ask?  Where do I begin?

For the past two and a half years, I have been in a relationship with the military.  However, I really only count the past seven months.  In March of 2012, my Army man switched his Army Reserve contract to Active Duty status.  That basically means the Army became his full time job, which basically means the Army became my life.  They have been an interesting seven months to say the very least- filled with laughs, smiles, and true happiness....eh, not so much.  Don't get me wrong, am I happy with my soldier? YES!  But actually, these seven months (212 days, 5,088 hours-not that I am counting!) have consisted of tears, trials, hard work, no contact, and downright loneliness.  During the times where my soldier and I have no contact, and letters are all we have, I sign them, "Always."

There is something romantic, even intimate about a handwritten letter that our technologically-brain washed society has forgotten all about.  It makes me think about the men and women who exchanged letters over the years before phones or computers, in the hopes of word that their husband, boyfriend, or maybe closest friend were returning home from war.  The feeling of opening up the mailbox to see that handwriting you have memorized oh so well-how he connects his h's and his e's to the next letter in the word, where he reassures you everything is going to be okay as long as you never leave his side...Let me just tell you, if you have never received a lovey-dovey handwritten letter, you are missing out.

I am one of the women who is blessed (even if it is in disguise sometimes) to stand beside a man serving in the United States Army.  What a ride it has already been!  I have high hopes this will be a place I can share the highest of highs and even the lowest of lows of a military relationship.  I look forward to walking this journey with all of you out there.

Until Next Time.
Always.