I Am a New Army Wife
I am an new Army wife, the writing prompt is so right!
My husband left for basic training 5 days ago. When I think of how we got here, I smile, albeit through tears. I'm incredibly proud of him, I think of what he's doing at this moment, I hope his drill sergeant is nice (unlikely), and most of all I pray he's okay.
Funny thing, when I met him I would have never thought Army. We both come from public library backgrounds, I'm a librarian and he was just about to finish his masters degree. One day, while sitting on the couch watching the tv, he just turns to me and says, "What if I joined the Army?" Really random, but I was intrigued. I asked him to elaborate, and pretty much said that he has always known that he would like to be a public servant, so why not this?
I agree, but at the time I thought public service meant research services, storytimes for kids, that sort of thing... In spite of the shock, I could not argue. He made a good point, he'd be serving our country. We went to the recruiter and before you know it he committed to the Army.
We rushed to get our marriage licence, tried to assemble as many of our family and closest friends, and we got hitched. A week later he was gone. Two days before he left we managed to hop on the subway and honeymoon in the Bronx Zoo. It was nice.
But now he's gone, and although I know this is temporary, I know countless other brave soliders started from where he is now... I can't stop crying. I miss my best friend. I find myself turning around to tell him something, forgetting he's not on the couch playing on his PS2. I actually haven't picked up his socks from the floor because the sight of them almost tricks me into thinking he's not far.
At this point I'm trying to tell myself that I am blessed that a man can compel me to cry for him. I am blessed to love someone so much, that my life seemingly hicups because of his absence. As much as I would love to have him here, safe and warm in bed with me, I don't think I would have realized how deep my love for him really is without the act of us parting ways for such a long time. So it's on to having some bad days and some better days, but I can't wait until the best day... when I get to touch his face again.
