Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The stories we could tell...

This is what I do, Darlin'...

Yeah, well...this is what I do...just make sure you come home.

'K...love you, bye...

Love you too, Weirdo.

Nighttime craziness was in full swing--kiddos were in the process of teeth brushing and shower protestations, kitty cat was starving and Sean was just finishing up dishes (oh, yeah--he does dishes too...told you he was Hot) when his phone rang. Possible bomb. Gotta go.

Soapy wet goodnight kisses from the showering little ones and my parting instructions to be careful and to come home in one piece sent him on his way.

Now...sitting here in a quiet house, dog not-so-softly snoring at my feet, my mind wanders. I think about ones we've known and lost. A friend who kissed her husband--father to her two little girls--goodbye and he didn't come home. At least not alive. A roadside IED just outside of Baghdad took care of that. He was EOD...his wife and I were stationed together. He knew his job--well trained, surrounded by other well trained men.

Don't worry...this is what I do.

I know. But then there's all of the stuff I don't know. And so I wait. I don't wait very well.

There's a book sitting on the table--one of Sean's Christmas gifts. He hasn't started it yet. Makes it fair game around here. See? Now he has to come home...so he can whine about me swiping his book.

10 comments:

MrsMonicaLB said...

very moving,gave me goosebumps.
I don't wait very well either, all we can do is keep the faith they come home EVERYDAY safe and sound!
thanks for sharing

Meadowlark said...

It is what it is...

And they'll come home until it's their time not to.

Keep the faith, chica.

Erin said...

I feel ya.

Unknown said...

Sigh. Oh to have that kind of love.

Sage said...

Don't Stop Believin'!

Julia said...

Beautifully written (as always). Made me cry today.

Natalie said...

Thanks for this touching post. I think that I purposely put myself in an unknown state of what my hubby deals with as a patrolman because I tend to dwell and then make up worse-case scenarios. He knows that so he always kisses me goodbye and waits for an "I love you" and "be safe."

I think I may start using the "Love you too, weirdo" now. I like it. ;)

Meadowlark said...

Natalie's post reminded me: I actually don't say "be safe" because I know he will. "Safe" isn't what's going to cause problems. Whenever someone in my family leaves it's "watch out for stupid people". Because THOSE are where problems are going to come from.!

mrs. fuzz said...

Thanks for this post.

Oh, and happy birthday, happy anniversary, merry christmas, and happy new year! I love the lego cake.

Natalie said...

So now my parting reply will be: "watch out for stupid people" and "love you, weirdo" instead. Awesome.