I feel like in the Army, we live and die by countdowns. We’re counting the days to a PCS, to the end of a TDY, to the end of a deployment…if it’s not one countdown, it’s another. And yes, I’m living entirely on this countdown right now. I had my first big meltdown yesterday morning when I got to daycare to drop off the boys. I forgot that Porter needed 3 changes of onesies, and Spencer needed house shoes. That meant I had to go buy some and bring them back – just to prevent having to drive the whole way home.
While I sat there in the car, I literally sulked and cried for a good 30 minutes, trying not to cry in the actual store, wondering how in the heck I’m going to make it 9+/- months without my other half. When I think of it in terms of days, it seems insurmountable. When I think of it in terms of landmarks, it seems slightly more feasible.
And so, that’s what I’m going to have to do; plan something every single month to have to look forward to.
This month my FRG co-leader, Amy, and I are throwing a Valentine’s party for the spouses and kiddos left behind here at Drum. It won’t be anything too elaborate, but here are some of our ideas:
images via here, here and here.
That, alone, should make for a fun planning process, at least, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to stay pretty darn busy because I won’t stop and think about how lonely it is without Ryan around.
For March, I’m thinking seriously about signing up for the Old Orchard Beach half marathon in Maine. It’s a super cheap entry because it’s the first time they’re running it (pun intended) – just $45 with a tech shirt – and it would really give me a reason to train hard. I’m by no means ready to do a half marathon, but it would give me that landmark to aim for in this deployment.
Danny and I have been running pretty consistently, thankfully, and I think this might be just the ticket…but who knows? We do have the Ocean City half at the end of April, so it’s really March that for which we need a landmark, so I’m reaching here…
What sort of ideas do you have to keep busy when your significant other or best friend is away? I’m always looking for something more to do.
I’m linking up today with Jessi for What’s Hap-pinning Wednesday!
