Mark’s new home
Camp Taji is just north of Baghdad, Iraq.
Obstacle after obstacle today. I went to Tricare to find out about how to get a new doctor in St. Louis. I was given a bunch of handouts (which I had already found on the internet) and told to read them and do it myself. None of my questions answered.
I turned in my orders for my move to TMO…then they called saying they didn’t have them. They did…and quickly found them. Frustrating, though.
Then, the best part of the day…my favorite place—Liberty Park Housing Office. We went in to give them our notice and were told the Power of Attorney isn’t good…but it is. So then they made an exception for us. Nice…an exception for a GOOD and EFFECTIVE Power of Attorney from the lawyers on base. Then, we had to set up our Pre-Inspection check out. Guess what…they wanted me to do it before 2 p.m. I told them that I couldn’t take off work any more days. We asked to speak to the management. Management came out…the time was quickly changed to no later than 3 p.m. by the wonderful secretary at Liberty Park, and then I got a 3:30 p.m. time slot. Nice, eh? I can’t wait to get out of this place!
Then final obstacle…saying goodbye to Mark. I made him cookies and rice krispy treats for his trip. I went with him to the airport. I brought the travel Scrabble because I knew that having something to do would make things easier. (I won, which always helps my move, too.) Saying goodbye has probably been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I know I can handle it. I know I’m a strong intelligent woman. It’s just so hard to think that I’m back on my own for an entire year. Mark is the person who helps me de-stress. Just having him grab my hand makes me feel so much better. I know I can survive, but I’d just rather be living my life with him. Plus, there’s this tiny part of me that is scared something is going to happen to him. I know Iraq is much safer than many places in the Middle East and that he’s not in a combat role, but it doesn’t make that tiny bit of fear disappear completely.
As I sit here and think about all that we’ve gone through since we found out about his deployment and all that I still have to go through on my own, I’m still in awe that the Air Force doesn’t give spouses any sort of training or help with all of this. Lessons on how to cope with stress, how handle things without your spouse, how help pass the time, how to get a hold of your spouse in an emergency…all important lessons and pieces of information that never get passed out.
I sort of envy the people whose squadrons all deploy together. You’re guaranteed to have company in the shitty times. When individuals deploy, everything is so much more complicated. No one knows how to get the forms right to make anything happen. I feel like Mark and I have just had the run around for a week, and so we didn’t really get to spend time with each other before he left.
Ok…enough of the negatives. I’ve decided to go to bed SUPER early tonight so this awful day can just be over. And in order to think more positively, I’m working on countdowns…anything to keep myself busy. So, friends, help me add more to my countdown calendar. Here’s what I have so far…
Current Countdowns
3 days until my ultrasound so we can see if my double Clomid dose is working…I so hope I get pregnant this round!
12 days till I learn to use a knife correctly (DC folks, someone should take this class with me!)
19 days till I learn about Stocks, Soups, and Sauce Basics
37 days until I move out of Liberty Park and no longer live on Andrews AFB! (THANK GOD!!!)
38 days until I begin the drive home with Kevin, maybe Erin, and my two pups
41 days until the Jackson Family picnic
49 days until the Cardinals game with some of my Borgia gamily
115 days until Erin and I go to Europe
365 days until Mark gets home!
Also, a warning to my friends and family. I am NOT good at asking for help. I don’t like people feeling sorry for me. I don’t like being a burden on anyone. I have always tried to do everything by myself. I know that I cannot get through the next 365 days without you all. I need people to try and schedule lunches/dinners/fun activities with me. I am not good at asking…I always feel like everyone else has significant others and families that they have to be responsible for, so I won’t ever organize plans. So I guess what I am asking is this: help keep me busy. Don’t let me be alone too much. Organize outings/meals, etc., and if I make an excuse for not going, push me and try to get me to go out. I’ll try hard not to be an emotional basket case and just randomly start crying. Oh, and Mark and I are going to be writing a lot in the next year. Be sure to check out our blogs often. Hopefully, Mark will have one on for us later this week.
