It's Catch-Up Time, Everybody.

HOLY CATS!   I truly thought that once Steve got out to Ft. Irwin, WA, I would have TIME to not only Blog on a TIMELY basis, but do other things.   

OBVIOUSLY NOT.  

I would have loved to have kept you up-to-date with his training and his "Herding cat and chasing squirrels" on a weekly basis.

But then....I would have LOVED to have done a lot of things other than what I've been having to do.  

I would have LOVED to have told you about Steve's two and three-quarter days of Leave here at home while it was happening.   There wasn't any time to do so then.

Here it is now:

We spent our first 3/4 day--going to the--CHIROPRACTOR together!  Woo-hoo!   

We did go out to eat at Cracker Barrel because it's "comfort food" to us; and we were blessed with someone paying for our meal.   

That was SO SWEET!    Almost as sweet as being out in public with my soldier in uniform and catching up on things. 

Then we went home to HAPPY-HAPPY-JOY-JOY dogs.   Insanity with fur.   They barked and ran like maniacs for over an hour.  

Next we called for "our" kids to come down to see me, not knowing that Steve was there.  It was great to surprise them!

After they went on home--we both crashed.   Steve especially. He was SO tired.

The next day was OUR DAY.   A day to do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted to do it.   And although if I told you everything we did--you'd find it mundane.

But then nothing is mundane when you're with the one you love; every moment is a treasure.   

It was a laid back, fun day; us and the dogs!   

The next and final day, we both were crabby and almost stand-offish towards one another.   That was because we knew that tomorrow would be our last time together for a year.  

When things hurt---we pull away from the pain.

Steve cleaned up the garage for me--and everybody else who would be coming in there to help me fix the house this year--so that was a mess.   

I was underfoot trying to plant my first flowers of Spring.   I was having a good time being outside with him in the damp-cool day--until I got a chill.   

Then the rest of the night I just sat in pain with every joint screaming.   NOT the way I wanted to spend our last night, but he had to pack bags anyway, so it was okay.

After 33 years of marriage, you KNOW one another, and you don't have to perform love; you just are love to one another.

It's the love that transcends all things and is unquenchable.

The next morning at 4:30, we hugged and kissed our last good-bye on the curbside at the airport.   Neither one of us wanted me to go with him to his gate; why prolong the pain.

So I watched him go; leaning out of the car and straining to see the last of him leave my sight, dissolving into the airport.

I sat and cried alone in the car.   Security left me alone and didn't shoo me away; they knew and let me be.

The days after his short time at home have been the same light-speed-blur of days as before he came home.   Only crazier.

Paperwork-paperwork-paperwork.

Legalities-legalities-legalities. 

Get-it-or-else...
get-it-or-lose-it...
get-it-or-have-no-medical-coverage...
get-it-or-NOT-be-Mrs.-Social-Security-Number-Elzy...
get-it-or-get-NOTHING.


Get the JAG attorney to fight for me.   (Again.)


Call "The List" and explain to them my rights and to "...back off!"


Call the JAG attorney again for advice on a new "surprise" battle.


Have a Scavenger Hunt for things Steve forgot; find them and ship them.   That one was fun.    NOT.


This and SO MUCH MORE...plus all of the other daily "extras" that the Lord would put on my plate to do.


Oh, almost forgot trying to get "Man Help" to take care of issues that I absolutely could not do.   Thankfully, I have six faithful men that I can depend upon for muscles and other "man help".   


I have made use of the stubborn-part of my personality to tell my feet and body to "Shut up!!" so I could help one of my best faithful men/neighbor, turn my ugly yard into a pretty garden.


There were days where I couldn't walk the day after digging and dragging and planting and moving stuff.  OYE!  


My dear neighbor and I have the worst parts over and done with; all that's left is the mulch to put down.
(OYE!!!  In advance.)


The main reason I worked so hard on several physical fronts was because I wanted it out of the way BEFORE Steve actually left the U.S.    


I finished the most painful part of my outside work on Wednesday, May 4th, and he left Ft. Lewis on Friday, May 6th.   

I spent all day and night yesterday just being by my phone so I could talk to him every chance he got to call me.


They left Washington state and had a short lay-over in Bangor, Maine.


Then the next leg of the journey (which is continuing now, even as I type this) will be to Leipzig, Germany, for another short lay-over.


Then onto Iraq.   


For those of you who want to count hours difference, so you know what time it is where he'll be; I'm Eastern Standard Time and I count AHEAD 8 hours.  (He thought that it was 12 to 14 hours difference at first, then realized that was Afghanistan time difference.)

So as far as I know---I've caught y'all up.   There are so many other little things, but if they need to be told, they'll come out in my future blogging.

Today, my girlfriend Angie, is taking me OUT; as in, get OUT of the house while your husband is in-route to Iraq and all that is ahead of us.   

I'll appreciate it later.   Right now....I'm just waiting by my phone...just in case.

Love To All And Keep Checking In With Me Here!
Patti