Heh. Back sooner than I thought. I went and read a few blogs I follow to get caught up. I'm horrible at remembering things that don't come with a notification of some sort.
One of these blogs was by a dear friend of mine talking about another of her friends moving, and how she herself would be moving soon. Which brought me to tears. If you've read previous blogs, you know my husband is in the US military. I won't EVER say which branch or what he does, to protect who we are/his job. But, part of military life is moving. We're currently on the West Coast. We were previously in Hawaii. When I moved to Hawaii to be with my husband, it was the first time I'd left the South. It's been a little over four years now, and I miss home as always. In a bit over a month, I'll be going home for a few months, while hubby wraps up some training. Then we're on to the East Coast and we'll be the closest to home we've been since we got married. I'm excited about that. I can't wait to be home. I can't wait for our daughter to be around her family. However, being a military family is a double edged sword. I have friends from Hawaii that I may never see again because of life: divorces, changing of careers, etc. I have friends from here that again, I may never see again. There are many branches in this area, and I've made friends with other branches than my husband's. We'll end up spread all over the country, and even overseas in some cases.
The women I've met here - are amazing. I so look forward to leaving and being close to home, but I desperately do not want to leave this band of women I've found here. This life is nothing like what Army Wives makes it look like. No one stays in one place SIX years like they have on that show. It just doesn't work that way. I've missed the births of some of my best friends' babies. I've missed birthdays for kids I was there for their birth. In this life - we (yes we do) choose to leave our families behind, and follow a man (or woman) we love where ever the military may send us. It doesn't make it easy, doesn't make it fun. Packing up and moving every 2-3 years sucks. Missing five holiday seasons with family in a row sucks. But we get the beautiful blessing of surrounding ourselves with a new kind of family. One that chooses to love you and hold you close to their hearts. One that chooses to call themselves 'aunts and uncles' to your children. And then, a year or so later, you're ripped apart. Those friendships NEVER die, because no matter how long it's been since either of you picked up a phone and called each other, you talk on fb, stalk each other's pictures, keep up with those kids, send cards, send presents.
So, it's bittersweet. I'm happy to be going home. I'm happy to be going to a place I'll be near old friends from Hawaii again. But I dread leaving these people. These ladies (and George*) have made this place so much more bearable for me. I love you guys, and you mean more to me than you will ever ever ever know.
*Names changed to protect my people.
Goodnight and God Bless
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