10:39 PM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Things not to tell your wife while she is deployed to the other side of the world:
1. I lost my wallet with a large amount of cash in it.
2. Oh yea, the credit cards were in there too.
3. Don't forget about the debit cards.
4. And my ID.
Things to tell your wife after you told her the things you weren't supposed to ever tell her in the first place:
1. The MPs just brought it all back to me.
In other news... we have been at Camp Spann for over a month. Everyone is finally getting into their schedule, and is eager to keep the deployment moving. Last night was our company's patch ceremony. By regulation you are authorized to wear a combat patch after being in country one day. However most units wait until around the 30 day mark. Ours was last night. My Battalion XO, who's mentored me since I got to my unit was able to put the staff's patches on them. I know a lot of people say it's no big to have the patch ceremony, but I'm not one of those people. That combat patch is a source of huge pride for me. As I was growing up in Picture Rocks, PA (population of like literally 500 people) I was too caught up in cheerleading, boyfriends, and social circles to really give the military a thought. Now here I am today in Afghansitan. It's very surreal, and sometimes I have a hard time believing it. That patch ceremony meant so much more to me than just another piece of material on a uniform. It symbolizes the sacrifices that all Soldiers that have deployed have faced, the countless hours that have been spent at work, and the missions that people have gone on to make this area a better place. Oh yea... and I beat Nate to it. HAHA
2:45 AM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Here's a group shot of the ladies of 1st BSTB. Thank goodness they are here, because without them... well, who would I have "girl talk" with? The other night I went to dinner with three of the guys in our unit. The entire time they talked of lifting weights, No X-plode, and ear wax. Really.... Ear wax. There is only so much of that a girl can take. Luckily I do not have to subject myself to that kind of torture often, but when I do, it makes me miss my Fort Drum friends a ton. (Hi Kayla!)
Nate is STILL siting at home waiting for his flight. It's been a bad couple of days for him. He's had his "fifth last meal in the states" last night. He insists that our brigade is not on a deployment, but instead partying in Las Vegas and he just wasn't invited. Rest assured blog readers, because I am NOT in Las Vegas. I wish.
3:07 AM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Sometimes I get the feeling that I am a bad wife. No, not in any kind of harmful or destructive way... just in a way where I feel like I'm not the wife I "should be." Being deployed keeps me busy, but also gives me a lot of time to think. Especially at night, when my Nate isn't around for me to talk to. All that I am left with is my thoughts. Now I know I do a lot for my husband, and he is the first thing on my mind every day when I wake up and the last thing before bed. However sometimes I feel like I'm not there enough. Like I can't commit as much time or energy as I would like to to him and our relationship. I can't have dinner ready for him when he gets home from work at night. I can't take care of the finances and household things right now. And unfortunately,I can't hug him goodbye before he leaves for his deployment. I just can't do all the same things that I feel like other wives can. That makes me feel helpless and like my life is out of my control. Which, technically it is. The only thing that makes me feel better about this situation is that I know Nate is ok with all of it. If he gets home from work before me, he makes dinner. If I'm not there to take care of the finances and household things, then he is the one setting up allotments and making sure the electricity is shut off for the year. And let me tell you... that hug he gave me before I left for deployment was the best hug I have ever received. I think when I lay down before bed tonight, I will think about that.
8:47 PM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Happy Easter! It's Easter Sunday here on Camp Spann, but it doesn't feel like Easter. I guess I really have nothing to compare what an Easter on a deployment is like... but it feels like any other day. My Soldiers did have an Easter egg hunt this morning, complete with plastic eggs and jellybeans. I think CSM ended up finding more than me, and he wasn't even participating. The sad thing is that Nate will be at home today eating a microwaveable turkey dinner (since our house is STILL in chaos due to the pipes breaking over the winter...) instead of having to sit through one of my "delicious" holiday feasts. Now that I think about it... he probably enjoys the microwaveable meal more. Last year at this time Nate had just moved up to Fort Drum and we had recently bought our house. Our Easter dinner was the first "real" meal we made together. This year I am eating an MRE for lunch. My how a year changes things. However, in that year we have learned so much and have continued to grow as a couple, so for that I am thankful.
As I write this, Nate is also getting ready to leave for the deployment. He will be on the opposite side of the country, but I am excited that he will be in the same time zone. I'm sure he is too, so that when I do get a chance to call I'm not accidentally waking him up at odd hours of the night.
Besides that, Camp Spann has been great. The Soldiers are eager to do their jobs and I am excited to see what the next year continues to bring.
12:16 AM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Well, yesterday started out like any other here in Afghanistan... but quickly took a different turn. Everyone has been trying to move into the tents or rooms where they are going to be living for the next year. It has been hectic. Chaotic. Stressful... to say the least. It doesn't sound like much, but everyone has their own ideas of how they want things done. Unfortunately in the middle of the madness, a Soldier ran over my foot with a Gator (one of those small vehicles that make it easy to get from Point A to Point B on the camp). I let out a big scream and was taken to the Aid station. From the Aid station I was sent to the Afghan hospital located within a couple miles of our camp for X-rays. I was the first one from our battalion to utilize their facilities, and it was an interesting experience. Since I am female I had to be escorted by a female at all times in the hospital. Even to use the bathroom (which, mind you, was a hole in the ground). She interpreted for me if necessary. When not doing that she told me all about herself. I quickly learned that she has a big family that she goes shopping with downtown ever Friday. She is currently enrolled in school and loves her job, and speaks better English than most Americans. She intrigued me. Her stories were compelling and she was very easy to talk to. She often reminded me of the freedoms of America by telling me of how she cannot wear her hair down or marry for fear that her husband will not allow her to work. She reminded me of how important mentorship is here in Afghanistan, and of how we are making a difference to the people by being here.
7:43 PM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
I made it to my final destination a couple nights ago. Travel went surprisingly well. Upon arrival at the manifest site I was able to secure an awesome first class seat on the biggest plane I have ever seen. I'm talking full recling, glorious elbow room, bed-like, first class seat. What a way to celebrate my 25th birthday... however, it definitely would have been better if my husband could have at least been there. Speaking of him, I have actually gotten to have a few small conversations since deploying. It's been nice. It in a way keeps me sane. Time has been going very fast, and so far I'm doing really well. In a way I am glad that I never deployed, because many previous Iraq veterans are not used to the way things are in Afghanistan. For example, prior to getting to our final destination we stayed in tents outside for a few days without heat or electricity. Not too big of a deal... however, for those Soldiers who went to Iraq... unheard of. Sleeping 8-20 people to a tent instead of 2 man rooms... impossible. I actually went into the situation with that "glass half full" mentality and it has made the transition easier. We are awaiting the arrival of the rest of our unit, and I am excited to get into a routine. I think having a routine will make the time go by faster. (at least I am hoping so) Nate should be getting ready to leave soon as well. My countdown for R&R has already started, since I am hoping to go in the fall. The big countdown for redployment has already started too! Less than 365 sounds wayyyyyy better than a year. I think...
9:06 AM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Packing is so... SYMBOLIC. I never realized it until I had to try and pack my life away for a year. The process of packing means a "change" or some sort of new beginning. Whether you are packing an over night bag to visit a friend for the weekend, packing a suitcase for your much deserved week long vacation to the caribbean, or packing those two duffel bags, a ruck suck, and an assault bag for that year long deployment, they all are the beginning of something different. As I finish up my packing and get ready to board the plane out of here, I'm already looking forward to next year's packing… the packing that will bring me home.
8:05 AM
MorethanaMilitaryWife
Well, I'm getting ready to leave for Afghanistan this weekend. Not only am I getting ready to depart on a huge adventure doing something that most people who knew me in high school would never have guessed I would grow up to do, but my husband is getting ready to do the same thing. While I leave this weekend (the same weekend as my birthday, go figure... Happy Birthday to me!!!), my husband, Nate will not be leaving until the middle of next month. It's like we are going on a "vacation" to a foreign country, at the same time, where the weather will be warmer and there will be sand... but without the cocktails or that whole being with each other aspect of it. I will be in a different location than Nate, so unfortunately we will not be spending anytime during this "vacation" together. However, knowing that I am on the other side of the world with Nate in the same country has a rather calming effect, irregardless of not being within close proximity. Hmm, I never knew I had the capability of being so positive. I wanted to start this blog initially for family and friends to keep up with us on this crazy journey, but I think it will be my "comfort item" while I am gone. It will help me feel more connected to all the things I am leaving behind. I would love to open my experiences to you, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I am going to enjoy sharing. Now on one of my last nights in the states for a year I think I am going to indulge in some ice cream, TV, and time with my husband before my "vacation" begins...
