Ramblings of an Army wife...

Can’t seem 2 find sleep
When ur gone
Can’t seem to find that peace
That u bring just by looking into my eyes
It’s hard to find the words
To explain this heart ache
Only that army family knows…
This pain…this pride
Makes me sad to feel so far away from my family
But they just can’t understand even as much as they want 2
No one could understand this life
Unless they have been through it
The long nites,
The racing heart the door bell brings
The late night phone calls
The trembling voice u don’t want to hear
The bond with those army wives
Is crazy strong, it’s faster than everyday
There is no time to waste.
Tomorrow I could be taking care of ur children
While u r sick, or u taking care of me when my mom passes away
U raise each other’s children
U keep each other from losing ur minds
U laugh at your failures together, instead of hiding them
Things u would hide from the rest of the world
In 12 months these strangers become as close as family
Even though you know that next year they will be gone
It’s the most heart wrenching, scary, experience of your life
Then ur soldier comes home…
It’s the most amazing feeling u could know
At the same time all the sudden
The life you have built for the past year is gone
That support system…
The midnight facebooking,
The 2am texting,
All of that stops
When the soldiers come home.
U have waited for this day,
Cried as you counted down the days
And now he’s home
And army wives start all over
Building yet another life…
A life with their soldier
Except he’s not the same soldier who left a year ago
So you start fresh, and love him…the new him
Along with all that he has been through,
With all that you have.
You give him your all because u know that again in 12 months u r going to say goodbye again
The countdown is always on…
Never waste a minute…
You will regret it when he’s gone
Live every day,
Like he’s deploying tomorrow

Katy McDonald
December 2009