Well, if you're reading this, I have successfully made it out of Germany, and at least touched down in Southwest Asia. I can't tell you where I am now, or when I'll be leaving, but I'm okay for now. (Currently, I'm in an airport terminal with free wireless, so I thought I'd let you in on my progress so far)
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Vanessa is the strongest young lady I know. She has so much to deal with, and she's very emotionally vulnerable right now - and my departure isn't helping matters at all. Still, she made it almost all the way through me leaving without crying. There were a few right before she left the terminal, but that's expected. I know she's going to be okay, and we have a strong support group that has ofered to help out whenever needed. I Love that woman of mine, and I'm better for knowing and Loving her.
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I want to address the CARE package question that many people have been asking about:
1) From what I hear, socks and underwear are hard to find items because as soon as the BX trailer gets them in, people buy them out immediately. Turns out, they'd rather buy new, than wash dirty. I know how that goes, but come on.
2) I'm actually going to try and lose some weight and build some muscle on this deployment, so if possible, try to limit the candy and snacks you send. Chocolate is usually a bad idea, because the temp can soar into he 150's where I'm headed. Dried fruits are welcome though.
3) Call me sappy, but a hand written letter, photos, or even a nice card mean a lot to me. If you want to make me smile, send any or all of these things.
4) I read that a New York pizzaria sent 20 frozen, packed-in-dry-ice pizzas to troops deployed to an area near me. If Bob's would be willing, I'd pay for the shipping. :D
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Look for me on Yahoo Instant Messenger under the name, "quinnharle." If I'm around, we can chat real time. If I'm not around, leave me a message.
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Okay, that's all for me right now. The next time you read anything from me, I will be "at the beach." If I can ask one thing, it is keep Vanessa (and me if you like) in your thoughts and prayers. If you can, send her a note once in a while, to let her know she's not alone.
I Love You all.
ULI
27 June 2008
25 June 2008
Just a while longer...
It finally hit me today. I'm leaving.
I know, I know, I've been leaving for a while, but now it's real. The days are both crawling and flying by. At work, time slows down to a crawl as I scramble to get the final things done before I leave. There is a lot to do, and little time. When I'm not running around getting checked off, I'm sitting in my office, alone.
I think that's where I started to feel like it's real. When I was sitting all alone in my office. I looked around and there was nobody around. All day. I felt aloof, abandoned, absolutely alone. I called Vanessa just to tell her I Love her. It helped a little.
Then, when I'm away from work, I don't seem to have enough time to spend with my wife. We have the same amount of time we always have (maybe more, since the sun stays up so much later), but it feels rushed. It feels like we don't have much time together at all. I don't know why...it just feels that way.
I said my goodbyes and see-you-laters to some of my friends/acquaintences today as well. For some, it was the last time I'd ever see them, and for others, we hope to catch up after I return. It was easier to leave some than it was to leave others.
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Vanessa's water works started tonight. She's been a really tough little Soldier (pun intended) about the whole thing. But now it's real for her, too. She just wants this week to never end. She's having a tough time - tougher than me - with me leaving. Luckily, we have some pretty good friends that have told her to call them if she needs anything. From calling up to talk, rant, cry, to coming over to do house/lawn work. Good friends like that help me be okay with leaving. I know she'll be taken care of.
Still, it's nowhere near easy to walk away from her, again.
I know we've been apart longer, but one of the things that makes us the strong couple we are, is that we enjoy spending so much time together, so anytime we're apart, it pains us.
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You'll probably hear from me once more befor eI head out...and then not again until I get set up in my new home. Don't fret.
ULI
- - - -
I know, I know, I've been leaving for a while, but now it's real. The days are both crawling and flying by. At work, time slows down to a crawl as I scramble to get the final things done before I leave. There is a lot to do, and little time. When I'm not running around getting checked off, I'm sitting in my office, alone.
I think that's where I started to feel like it's real. When I was sitting all alone in my office. I looked around and there was nobody around. All day. I felt aloof, abandoned, absolutely alone. I called Vanessa just to tell her I Love her. It helped a little.
Then, when I'm away from work, I don't seem to have enough time to spend with my wife. We have the same amount of time we always have (maybe more, since the sun stays up so much later), but it feels rushed. It feels like we don't have much time together at all. I don't know why...it just feels that way.
I said my goodbyes and see-you-laters to some of my friends/acquaintences today as well. For some, it was the last time I'd ever see them, and for others, we hope to catch up after I return. It was easier to leave some than it was to leave others.
- - - -
Vanessa's water works started tonight. She's been a really tough little Soldier (pun intended) about the whole thing. But now it's real for her, too. She just wants this week to never end. She's having a tough time - tougher than me - with me leaving. Luckily, we have some pretty good friends that have told her to call them if she needs anything. From calling up to talk, rant, cry, to coming over to do house/lawn work. Good friends like that help me be okay with leaving. I know she'll be taken care of.
Still, it's nowhere near easy to walk away from her, again.
I know we've been apart longer, but one of the things that makes us the strong couple we are, is that we enjoy spending so much time together, so anytime we're apart, it pains us.
- - - -
You'll probably hear from me once more befor eI head out...and then not again until I get set up in my new home. Don't fret.
ULI
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