He Came, He Saw, He Went

He came just as fast as he left. It all happened so fast that I cannot remember each and every detail of his departure. His final day turned from morning to night in a matter of seconds. We had a few months to prepare but those months felt like weeks and the weeks felt like days.

There we were standing in the airport waiting for my mom to arrive. Little did the children know that it was really daddy who would be showing up. As we waited impatiently to see that familiar face there was a family beside us who were also waiting for their husband and their father. Suddenly I heard the daughters' crying out "Daddy! Daddy!" and I couldn't help but notice the pain on my daughter's faces. I wanted to tell them right there and then that it was really daddy who was coming, but I couldn't. I had to wait.

I remember sitting in the car driving around and doing errands. My husband mentioned that they would be deploying early the next year. After having been told this previously without my husband actually having to go it was a bit difficult to believe. However when spring arrived there we were wishing him a farewell. I couldn't hold my composure in front of the children as I sat in the car crying like a newborn baby who only wants to feel that familiar warmth that always makes them feel safe. Eventually I got over the crying but the sadness and the lonliness was still there. All I could do was wait.

There we were doing just that. My husband was coming home for his two weeks of rest and relaxation. I couldn't wait to see his face, to squeeze him tight, and I knew that as much as I wanted to see him doing so would only make it harder. Having to let go once can be difficult enough. Letting go twice, I'm not sure if I can handle that.

I can remember helping him go through all of his things making sure he had packed enough of the essentials. We had to make sure all of his equipment was present and accounted for. We loaded everything into the car and we headed off to his armory so that he could report for duty. He was going from being a father who was protective of his children to a soldier protective of his country. A husband who loves his wife to a soldier who loves our country's freedom.

Soon I spotted some desert camoflauge. I imagined the joy they felt coming home to see their families. I imagined the looks on my daughters' faces when they realized it was daddy who we were waiting for. Being near-sighted I couldn't make out these soldiers' faces and could only hope that one of them belonged to my husband. Sure enough as the soldiers came closer there was one that stood out from the crowd. That familiar face that made me smile, made me feel safe, and made me feel loved. Excited I pointed to him and asked the children, "Wait, who is that? Look over there, who do you see?" The children bobbed their heads side to side trying to figure out where their grandma was. Until they finally met the eyes of their father and jumped up in joyous excitement, "Daddddd!!!!!!"

This was just yesterday or so it seems. His two weeks felt like two days. We had to say goodbye again. Dropping him off at the airport brought back those tears from nearly a year ago. He left just as fast as he came.