We are currently over 5 months into Brent's 18 month "unaccompanied" Republic of Korea tour. We haven't seen each other in over a month, but thanks to Facetime and Skype, are able to talk on a daily basis. This past month has gone by in a blink of an eye. I think part of it is due to the fact that there is only a one hour time difference between us. Also, we have both been VERY busy lately.
Now, I want to be perfectly clear on something. I still really enjoy being a part of the Air Force family and, while challenging at times, we are blessed to be in the situation we are in. I don't want to give anybody the impression that I'm discouraged or angry about our circumstances. With that being said, I still miss my husband.
I've discovered that I miss my husband's presence in some of the smaller, day-to-day things that I didn't expect. This new understanding came to me last night while I was taking a shower. We've all been there: I ran out of conditioner. Most of the time this is where you call for your significant other to bring the needed item to you. Alas! Last night I had to step out of the shower trailing a series of small lakes behind me to the bathroom cabinet and back. Well, that would have been easier if Brent were here! (Then again, he probably would have been playing video games with his headphones on, unable to hear me, resulting in the same reservoir inducing bathroom scenario described above.)
A few other I wish Brent were here highlights:
-- Handy Man. The kids had just gone down for their naps and I was enjoying one of those precious moments of peaceful silence in our house when it happened. BEEP. Hoping I had imagined it, I resumed flipping through "What to Expect When You're Expecting" for the 3rd time. BEEP. I had not imagined it. The threat was real. The batteries needed to be changed in the smoke detector. At this point we still did not own a ladder. Brent is tall enough to stand on a chair to accomplish the task. The scene began to unfold before my eyes: my very pregnant self trying to change the batteries while standing precariously on top of a diaper box, on top of a chair. Fortunately for me, my mother-in-law came to the rescue to help. And I bought a ladder. Until next time evil smoke detector!
-- Tough Guy. I was thrilled to begin driving our shiny new mini-van upon returning from Korea. That is until the air conditioning quit working. Let me tell you, when it is 115 degrees outside a lack of air conditioning in a car is miserable. A couple weeks later, the issue was fixed at the dealership. The malfunction was due to an error on the part of another car dealership and it has become my responsibility to speak to them to be reimbursed. Brent gently reminded me, "You're going to have to be tough!" Seriously? Have you MET me? I'm SO not the tough guy in this relationship. I am skilled in the ways of the stern look and mom voice with my children, but a service rep at the dealership? OY! I wish Brent were here!
-- Positive Food Critic. I'm not fishing for compliments, but it sure is nice to feel appreciated when you cook a fabulous meal. I made an incredible pot of soup the other day. Homemade chicken stock, homemade noodles, locally grown organic vegetables with leftover roast chicken. My son said, "This is great! We should have this all day long and all night!" (he said the same thing about the honey nut cheerios.) My little girl proceeded to pour her soup into her diaper.
-- Accountability. It pains me a little to say this, but Brent keeps me accountable, especially when it comes to delicious sweet treats. Usually, when I make chocolate chip cookies I wait until the batch is complete before indulging in one warm, gooey circle of golden deliciousness. I do this because Brent will tease me mercilessly over how many I'm going to eat once they are done. A small streak of stubborness causes me to prove him wrong, so I limit my intake. Last week I made cookies and he wasn't here to tease me. I ate three. From the first batch.
-- Bathroom Privacy. If you do not currently have young children you may not completely understand this one. If you are the sole adult in the house there is NO such thing as privacy. At all. "Just lock the door!" I hear you say. Believe it or not, that makes it worse. They hear the lock turn and they bang and shout for the next ___ minutes until you are done. OR the house becomes eerily silent - and you know you can't find out what they are up to until you are done. They know it too. Instead, you must settle for everyone (including the dog) crowding around you, staring, while you complete the task at hand. Honestly, I feel like I should give them score cards or establish a rating system to make things a little more interesting. (Well mom, I would have given you a higher score, but I had to deduct for the improper tearing of the toilet paper...) Now, when Brent is home he is MUCH more interesting than watching me proceed with my duties. Glorious privacy achieved!
Finally...
-- Conversations with my BFF. Even though we get to talk every day, I still miss conversations with my husband. I miss telling him about the little things that happened during the day or the tid-bits I discovered earlier but couldn't remember until I walked into the guest bedroom. I miss spontaneously telling him I love him or giving him peck on the cheek. If I'm being perfectly honest, this is what I expected to miss most about him. Please, if you are reading this, let me live vicariously through you while you hug the one you love for no reason at all today.
Until next time!
No comments:
Post a Comment