Post Deployment

So this is my first post post since my hunny came back. It has been one hell of a roller coaster.

Watching him march from the airplane to the hanger to be released from 1 year of service in Afghanistan back to their waiting families was a mixture of excitement, pride, fear and a huge surge of  LOVE. I got to the hangar right before his plane landed on the tarmac and taxied up to the hangar that was full of families anxiously awaiting the arrival of their loved ones. They had to march in the short distance from the plane to the middle of the hangar. The five minutes of announcements and praise that followed were torture. They were made to stand at attention across from us. After not being able to hear my loves voice in almost 7 months, not being able to touch him or kiss him. Yet having him so close was agony. I was imensley proud of my hero but I wanted to have my lover back in my arms. When they finally released him from formation and I put my arms around him that first time I never wanted to let go. He was SAFE. He was HOME. He was MINE. I can't even describe the feelings I felt in that moment. It was one of those scenes in a movie that there would be tears all around. No one cried. I  don't think that anyone could cry. (I balled later that night). I finally had the man of my dreams at my side again.

 While many families brought flowers, made huge signs, presented newborns to their daddy for the first time......I just had a set of keys. I was able to get my hunny's car from TN to Tampa and was able to pick him up in his new '76 red Corvette. He has wanted that car for years and years. His dad is a 'Vette guy and Bobby is too deep down. So with lots of phone calls, e-mails and a very long car ride from Temple, GA I had that beautiful car. And while people were giving their flowers and babies I just simply handed my man a set of keys. I have never seen anyone so excited. He ran outside and directly to his new baby. He drove it around the parking lot and found a closer space. He then took me around to introduce me to people he spent the last year with. tho he sorta forgot about me most times and started talking about "Sofia" (the Vette). And you know what? I couldn't even get upset. I was happy to see him so excited.

 After all the excitement died down a little bit, everyone was released and we headed home. I felt so awesome ridding with the tops out, windows down next to the man of my dreams. It was slightly terrifying too seeing that he hadn't driven a car in over a year......But we survived. And we couldn't get home fast enough.:-D

  So I'm going to skip the activities once we got home. They were rather....Private hehe

 We didn't pick up his daughters for a couple days because even tho the Deployment was over the Army didn't want to give them time off just yet. He had planned on showing up at their school to surprise them  after his two 12 hour days. But they found out that he was home from their mother. So we told them that the Army needed him for a few more days and He would get them Monday. He then went in Friday and sorta surprised them. They were two very happy little girls.

 The 6 months since them have had their ups and downs. He hasn't found a job yet, the one he left when he deployed isn't hiring.  He decided to pursue the police academy and found out a week or so ago that he was accepted. So with the help of the GI bill we will make it a little while longer.

  He and I lost a few friends too. Most of his air soft buddies are no longer around. A few turned on the two of us and took the rest with them and last I heard that whole group had a falling out. He and his best friend made up after not speaking for over a year.

I am so happy my hunny is home and I am looking forward to spending many more years with the man of my dreams. I just hope there are no more deployments for a while.