The Spoiled Wife

Yup, I'm spoiled. 


Now, I've been doing this Army wife thing for a while now, and Army girlfriend a while before that. And I've suffered through my fair share of deployments (in fact, too many if you ask me. This is my third, and his fourth). But we have been very fortunate: Sarge has always had internet in his room, and never, ever, leaves the wire, unless it is for a short trip and is usually by air. I remember last deployment, his words to calm me down when they were getting ready to take a trip, "When's the last time you heard of a Colonel's helo getting shot down?" He was right, and it silenced my fears and I went about my day, waiting to hear from him again--which wasn't long, because he had access to phones because of who he was with. Spoiled much?


However, he is not working with the same group. And this whole traveling by convoy thing freaks me out. I know people do it every day. But I don't care, because he doesn't do it every day.


Today, I imagine, I have the same fears most other wives deal with on a daily basis. I almost feel put in my place. While I always worry, I have never had to seriously worry. You always have this unsquashable fear in the back of your head when you husband, no matter what his job is, boards a plane to leave off for war. But being that Sarge does not have a combat related job, I've never really had to worry. The longest we've gone without contact is a day or two. (Again, spoiled much? I know women who go a week or so at a time without so much as an email or 5 minute phone call, and I get irritated when he doesn't write me back. I'm such a princess.)


I don't like that he isn't in the safety of the base. I hate that for some reason they could fly out, but couldn't obtain a flight back. I hate that I can't talk to him. I've live, yes, but my thoughts keep wandering to what they're doing, where they're at, what the road is like, are there a lot of people and villages, or are they just driving along a dark road through the mountains? Did they get a chance to stop and eat? Is there a FOB that they get to stop at, or are they camping out in the middle of no where?


I know he's fine. I trust that the people he is with know what they're doing, and they would all have each other's backs. I just, don't like it. I don't like the uncertainty of it all.


Iraq was a different thing from the 'Stan. He was stationed at a tiny little FOB, and never left the wire, but it was more dangerous. He would stop in the middle of our messenger conversation, tell me he'd be right back with no explanation, and come back some 10-20 minutes later. When I asked what had happened, he would say "oh, we just took some mortars," and would continue on like nothing at all had happened. Whuck? I guess that's what happens when you're on your second tour, and that kind of thing happens almost daily. At the time, it scared me to death. I couldn't fathom just brushing off something like that, but he did.


I guess what it all boils down to is, that my hat is off to all the ladies who deal with this on a daily basis--I do not think that I could deal with it. I deal with deployments well, but it is solely because I do not have to worry, and I do hear from my husband often. I would never say that I have it as hard as someone whose significant other was in harm's way on a daily basis. I openly admit that Sarge and I have it pretty easy as far as that goes.
The women who truely hang onto their phones for dear life, waiting for a phone call. And keep their computer nearby at all times just in case. This spoiled little wife is amazed at your courage and strength. Hooah!