Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

The hardest words to say are Good bye. I have found this to be true many times over in my life, and at the end of this trip it was still true.  I held the tears in until they guys had left to go back to base, and we wives shared hugs and extra tissues. I can usually hold in things pretty well, but when people around me are showing their emotions mine come out too.

We grabbed some coffee in the lobby and then sat out by the pool and visited.  It was a nice chance to unwind.  We had decided to hit the road again at 8:30am and head North.  The trip back wasn't on as tight of a schedule as the trip down.  We stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico and spend 5 hours shopping the open market in Old Towne and having a nice lunch before heading out again.  During our trip I decided I love the robust colors and flare of the Southwest.  It definitively has a unique charm. 

The people are so welcoming and friendly. I met the nicest little old man in a bookstore.  He had been to the town I am living in and was originally from Billings, MT.  He shared pretty much the same opinion of El Paso I had formed, and told me about when he was stationed at Fort Bliss after Korea and how he would walk at night to Juarez. How things have changed.  He was a kind soul who had traveled working for an oil company and settled in Albuquerque.  I could see how, it is the second time I have been there and honestly I love it.  My new goal is to go back the 1st weekend of October for the hot air balloon rally.  Thousands of colorful balloons in the sky would be so neat to see! We also met a very sweet woman running a little novelty store that said she had came on vacation, fell in love and never went home.  Along the street were line of people showcasing their homemade jewelry on blankets to be sold.  One the guys we visited with came from a long line of jewelry makers and took the time to explain what each stone/rock was, a brief description of how it is cut and made.  His grandfather has jewelry on display in the Smithsonian and another grandfather was a Navajo code talker.  I could have listened to him tell stories all day.  One of the woman had a picture that caught my eye...a enormous rattle snake being held up.  I had to know if that came from near by...that would cure my wanderlust and thoughts of moving here someday.  She wasn't sure exactly where it was from, but told us about one of her sons who has 250 rattlesnakes, he milks them for their venom to make the snakebite antidotes...and laughed saying she is sure that is why he is still single.  I had to agree.

The rest of the trip mirrored the trip down.  We pretty much only stopped for gas and potty breaks.  I personally was in a hurry to get home.  I missed my little boys.  And as wonderful as all the gals I was traveling with were, you have to admit 5 woman crammed in a van together for 1200 miles is a bit much.  They made the mistake of letting me drive the 2:30am-8:30am shift.  While everyone was napping I forgot Tom-Tom threw in a weird detour in Wyoming and followed the GPS directions instead of "turn off the interstate in Douglas directions".  We were in Buffalo when we realized the error, so we had to back track to Gillette.  I felt bad and the extra 1.5-2 hours added on the to trip.  But in the end we made it.

My Wonderful Mommy - Who I appreciate more and more with every passing day.

I drove another 1.5hour to my folk's ranch and had a visit with my mom.  She wanted me to stay the night because I was tired, but I had so much to catch up on at home I enjoyed a couple cups of tea and conversation and was on my way again for another 3 hours.  The boys wanted to snub me for leaving them, the Toddler was upset I didn't bring Daddy back home and the Big D was having separation anxiety from grandma.  Once we got home we played out in the backyard and got good and dirty, we had an overflowing bubbly bath and cuddles drying off with the towel and all was well again.

All in all it was nice to be home.  I am glad I had to opportunity have some time together with my Husband before he left the states, it gave us a chance to reconnect and say goodbye without crowds and cameras.  Just what we needed to get through this deployment together.

Lets Go to the Zoo, Day 4 & 5

Day 4:
The first half of the day again was spent one-on-one.  Being together was wonderful, but we could only take so long holed up in a little room. We made plans for lunch, checking out Fort Bliss, and wandering around post again.  We met up with more travel buddy wives and their soldier hubbies and went on a quest for Authentic Mexican food. We drove around A LOT.  I'm not sure the process we were using to find the best place to eat...because there really wasn't one.  We were checking out ratings, names, and locations on our smart phones...nothing seemed to stick out.  The aimlessly cruising and keeping our eyes peeled for something was taking too long.  Finally someone pointed and picked a spot to pull over.

It was there that we picked up a slightly tipsy Mexican woman named Virginia, who hitched a ride home after our quest to find Authentic Mexican food (Which was a total success by the way, very yummy tamales!)  I could only make out every 5th word, and I'm pretty sure even her Spanish was slurred. I really thought we were giving her a ride to a doctors appointment, but at the end of the directions I think it was clear it was her house....I hope it was her house.

As we were out and about we also located the Zoo. We decided we couldn't get through it in an hour, as it was almost closing time.  The guys weren't concerned, they didn't want to go to the Zoo anyway. (Little did they know, their women were plotting a return trip...okay they really did know, but were busy scheming on how to get out of it.)

If I would have turned on the news  when we got back to the motel that evening,  I would probably have more to this story.  We saw no fewer than 20 cop cars hot in pursuit of something/someone(s) while in a less than desirable neighborhood because Ozzy got us lost again. (Our navigator Tom-Tom with Ozzy Osbourne's voice had not been updated recently and really wanted us to drive on nonexistent roads and had a pension for swearing and checking out questionable neighborhoods.)  Really I wonder if the programmers were going for accuracy...how good of a job do you think a burned out rocker would be at navigation?

We made it back in one piece though and decided after the guys got back from morning formation we would head to the zoo and beat the heat (well the wives decided this...that a picking up hitchhikers with a language barrier was probably not the best idea). 

Day 5:
Thursday we (aka: the wives, with complete disregard to the Husbands vote) decided for sure that we were going to check out the El Paso Zoo.  The guys took forever getting back to the hotel, there was some hold up so most of the morning was already gone before they returned.  I had packed along a couple of books for the trip so I made myself a cup and coffee and read Lets Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson aka: The Bloggess. (Check it out, its pretty funny...be warned on the salty side).  I ended up spending most of the morning reading waiting on my hunny to get back.

So much is getting to be a blur already.  I should have written up these posts sooner, or took a journal along on the trip.  I wanted to include pictures...but I will have to wait to update when the Hubby emails them to me.  I took them with his camera. Anyway, they got back, we strong armed them into a Zoo trip...and yep, that was our afternoon. (I promise, pictures will help the narration)

It was hot!  It was also fun getting to see all the animals and being out and about with my man.  It felt that a trip back in time to our dating days...expect I got a sunburn and wasn't on out on the river.  We ended up back at Bliss again, and had some ice cream and ate at Buffalo Wild Wings.  I mention Buffalo Wild Winds because it seems like the Hubby eats at one every school or training he is away for...and I had never been.  The highlight for me was you could play trivia with a little computer deal against other patrons and people from across the country.  Not to brag...but we did pretty dang good!

Day 3 - The Only One For Me is You

I slept in because I could, and because I was still exhausted from traveling.  Then I heard the sound I had been dying to hear.  Knocking at my door.  My soldier officially had his day pass!  There he was in uniform...asking if I remembered to bring him regular clothes...he was eager to get into a pair of shorts in a t-shirt.  I was just eager to see him, I forgot about 1/2 the stuff he asked me to bring...but I did remember his civies (civilian clothes) We had the entire morning to ourselves.  Somethings are taken for granted, but with two little ones and a million other things going on in our day to day lives, I can't tell you the last time we as a couple actually took time for us. After this deployment is over, I really hope we don't take the "us time" for granted anymore.

  

We walked over to the nearest restaurant and had lunch with two other couples and established we didn't have huge plans.  Everyone was thinking the same thing: enjoy having your spouse all to yourself.  One of the wives I rode down with is from my home town, and our Hubbies are good friends.  So we ended up making some plans together.  After heading back to our rooms for a post feast siesta we grabbed a taxi to base and got the grand tour of Fort Bliss.  We also caught a movie,  Snow White and the Huntsmen.  It was darker than the Disney version and supposedly followed the Brothers Grimm story closer, I might have to reread it, because I had some doubts about that.  Either that or Kristen Stewart just bugs me enough I had to find fault with it. I still couldn't get over having a date with my husband and not having to worry about getting back to the kids though.  It really brought us back to what brought us together.

There was a neat  outdoor space with seating and a fountain.  Kids ran through there all day long, and at night it lit up...not going to lie, I felt like running through it too!

I really wanted to take picture earlier in the day when the little kiddos were splashing around...but decided it would be creepy to take pictures of other peoples kids.

We also found out overnight passes had been granted for the soldiers with spouses in town.  I slept the best I have in ages, with a strong pair of  arms around me.  Something about an empty bed, just doesn't make for sound sleeping.

Southern Charm, Day 2

No offense to any lovers of Western Texas, but I was not all that charmed by El Paso.

My thoughts (Day 1 in Texas, Day 2 of the trip)

• Was Fort Bliss named after somebody or is the name just a cruel joke?
• I don't do heat well...awesome the low for the week is 98F.
• Ooh, look at all the pretty metal scroll work on the windows of that house...ooo and that house!! Oooo and that...wait a minute, they all have them... Uh guys!  All the windows have bars on them!  I'm not getting a great vibe, maybe we should find the hotel now?
• So the image in all the B Westerns of skinny cows with ribs sticking out eating cactus because that is all there is to eat: NOT invented by Hollywood.  That is West Texas.
• These cockroaches are big enough to pack me away. Don't try stepping on one or three more will charge! Suddenly the  La Cucaracha song has lost all charm...
• I am happy the Hubby is National Guard and as his wife I don't have to move here!

We arrived in El Paso Monday morning and ate our 1st real meal, that didn't come from a gas station, at Cracker Barrel.  Running on no sleep, coffee, and energy drinks I found my stomach upset and feeling hungover.  Gracious I'm getting old!  The first thing we all did when we finally found the hotel was take a big fat nap!  Then we went to the base and did a little shopping and grabbed another bite to eat.  There was  back and forth debating as to if we would get to see our soldiers or not (their passes didn't start until Tuesday, and none of the soldiers were on the same page as to if we were allowed to visit)...in the end, we did get to see them.  Of course we weren't allowed in the barracks (which was fine by me).  The Hubby walked me around, gave me a short tour, and had me pet feel the fake grass turf...not sure the point of it, but it was the only greenery to be found, which made it somewhat of a big deal.


I was floating on cloud nine.  Suddenly I couldn't image a more perfect place in the world, I was standing right next to my husband.  The hardest part?  As he was in uniform I wasn't allowed any PDA.  No hugging, kissing, hand-holding...nothing.  20 hours in a van, standing close enough to smell his aftershave...and I was supposed to keep my hands to myself.  He cracked first!  After 10 minutes he gave me a big hug, then we took a walk (holding hands, unless we met other soldiers). I was taking whatever I could get, and was giddy from head to toe!

Did you know that a soldier in uniform:

• Can't talk on a phone and walk at the same time.
• Can't have have their hands in their pockets 

• Must keep their right hand empty/free at all times (in case they need to salute)
• If you are walking beside them you should be on the left (see above)
• Can't show any PDA

• They may link elbows for escorting someone, but if more than one woman accompanies him,  it must be the older woman (ex: mother before wife)
• Depending on the unit, they also not be allowed to chew gum or smoke in uniform 

South Bound and Down

I've been gone a few days...and I don't even feel bad for not updating the blog.  Why?

I found out the guys were getting a couple of day passes! Soooo....me and 4 other lonely army wives planned a trip to travel across country and see our men!

Heading out!

Work graciously let me leave, even though I used up all my vacation the week before Hubby deployed.

My Mom graciously agreed to watch the grand-kidlets for the week. {Thanks Mom!}

Five women in a van, buzzing with the anticipation of seeing our soldiers!

The traveling was a little rough...20-ish hours one way. We stopped only to gas up and use the bathroom.

It was so worth it

I was  in heaven. Though it was hotter than Hell. (Texas stayed a balmy 100F+)

Love you so much honey.  I was a great chance to remember who we are together, and what brought us together before kids.

I can't begin to describe how proud I am of my Husband.

The Hubby has been in the National Guard for 10 years, he joined at 17.

This is his 2nd deployment, the first was before we met. (If we are going to be technical, actually we first met in high school, but didn't realize that until our first date 6 years later)

I do find myself throwing a pity party sometimes, when the being alone gets hard.  But mostly I am swelled up with pride.  With the day in age we live in, everyone thinks they are "owed/deserve" what the Jone's down the street have...its nice to know I am married to a man willing to work for and protect what he has earned.

Definitively a man worth waiting for.  When I close my eyes I can still feel his arms around me, and count down to the day that feeling isn't just a memory.