What am I? A Truck Driver?

Over the last several, like 6, years I have made some good friends on the internet. I met my best friend and husband online. Yes, I did. Don't look so surprised! I also met a woman whose husband was in the Marine Corps and was deployed. She and I became great friends during that deployment. He returned safely and they continued on with their lives. She and I have always kept in touch, regardless of how long we did go between speaking, we were always able to catch each other up and continue on in our friendship. She was there with me through my divorce, when I met my husband, when he enlisted again, when we were preparing for our first deployment, and throughout this horrible roller coaster of a deployment. She introduced me to her and her that are friends in Missouri, via the internet of course, and I have blogged about our silly and hilarious time spent chatting online before. Through all of this, we never met in person.

After my long vacation in Tennessee, coming back to an empty house with DQ gone was sad for me. My great friends in Misery kept telling me that I should come and see them. I kept thinking about how long that drive is and saying no way. I was finally convinced a week ago to just go. Thanks, Mom! I am really not a last minute, jump in the car kinda girl, but last Thursday, I did just that. I decided about mid morning that I would pack up and make a trip to Misery to see these girls. They are on the very last leg of a very, very long deployment. I believe their husbands have been gone somewhere around 14 months. I have been able to spend a week soaking up the excitement of preparing for the soldiers to return from Iraq. I have glued and cut and traced along side these girls for days making welcome home signs for close to 200 soldiers. I have loved every minute of it. It has been just what I needed as I reach almost halfway through this deployment.

It has been refreshing to see these strong women who have made it through a much longer deployment than my own. Their excitement for the homecoming of their soldiers is contagious. I am thrilled for them. They have taken me in, even though I could have easily been a murderer, thanks Alex. Even though they have so much going on in their lives right now that it makes my head spin. They have introduced me to a few other wives, too. They have made me feel as though it is possible to get through this year with my sanity as in tact as it was before the year started. I can't just say in tact because we all know that it was never completely in tact.

I will post more about this adventure in Misery soon, but I had to at least get out there that Amber, Michelle, Brandy, Bre, and even Alex whom I just met, have given me the boost that I needed to get through this deployment. They also taught me that I should start homecoming preparations very early or I will be completely insane by the time the Husband actually returns. Oh, and that anything said around a bunch of women who have been without their husbands for a very long time can be turned into something dirty. Always.

Thanks ladies! This week has meant more to me than you could every know. I promise to invite you down to Texas to make signs and stuff when it's my turn!