The short answer to the question you may or may not have asked is "I dont know." But I'll rewind.
If you've been reading my scattered musings, you know I'm about to go on deployment. You may even have a general idea of vicinity and possibly the name of a Naval Vessel. All this is true, and let me fill you in on something.
That's ALL I know. Really. I mean, I know the ship name, even some of the folks on it. I know what general area I'll be in, but that's it. I don't know when I'll be home, and at this point, I don't know when I'll be going. See, I'm on leave right now, hanging with my family. Doing what you would do if you were about to leave home for an indeterminate amount of time to go somewhere unknown. I will know when I am to leave when I get to the Regional support detachment. They'll hook me up with a flight (or flights) and a way to get there. And a departure date. But until I check in, I won't know a thing. And I'd rather spend time with my kiddos right now. So please, for the love of all that is holy, STOP ASKING!!
I will tell you what I know, when I know it, if I feel like it. The way I look at it is this. The only 3 folks in the world who DESERVE to know anything about my whereabouts are my spouse and kids. If you had anything to do with my birth, the birth of my spouse, or the birth of my kids - you will know what I know when I know it or shortly thereafter. The rest of you will find out as I tell you. Remember when you were pregnant and your Mother-In-Law called everyday and asked if anything had happened yet for a month before the birth? Now you know how I feel. I really don't know anything.
And you know what? I'm OKAY with that. It's my job, not the end of the world. We plan for this stuff. El Jefe and the children will be fine. Anna may not get her hair braided for a while, but that's fine. She will learn about baseball. Sam will get to cook more with Dad. He's good daddy, and is used to this. What I would really like right now is for everyone else to calm down.
4 comments:
The uncertainty can suck, but you're right--we're used to it (although I now see it from the other side). The questions do get so old so fast. My husband's ship is homeport shifting to Japan. When do they leave? Don't know. When will the kids and I be arriving for our stay with my parents while he's gone? Don't know. How long will we be staying? Don't know. And where will we be going when he gets back a couple months after heading over, since his tour ends this summer and we'll be getting new orders? Don't know that either. I can't count the number of times I've said, "Trust me, I will let you know as soon as I do, but I don't know yet!
You are so right. Spend time with them and let the rest go. I spent 20 years as a Navy spouse and that is how we did it. El Jefe is probably even better prepared than I was. I spent deployments hoping none of the appliances would break.
Both of my ex-husbands were in the military..the first a Marine and the second Royal British Navy! The second one got to go a lot of places and what I was most jealous of was when he went on cold weather training in Norway and got to ski! His life always seemed more interesting even though those guys complain all the time about the toughness of it all. I always wondered what it would be like to be a woman in the military, but I'm 42 now so its too late...maybe that's a good thing? Love your blog.
nice personal narrative, refreshing. hope you do well. row away from the rocks...
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