Everything's Better with Chocolate

  What could be better than chocolate?  Chocolate yarn.... chocolate soft-as-a-baby's-behind Jo Sharp Rare Comfort mohair to be exact.  My order from Elann arrived Friday.  In a word, "YUM!"  This will go into a beautiful throw for our living room which is in sages and browns.  I want to find something silky to knit along with it.

Actually... there is something better than chocolate.  Getting a package from my SP4!  Thanks so much Gracie!  A bunch of goodies.  "Life's a Stitch" pen, tea, bookplates for my knitting/spinning books and a luscious kit from Spirit Trails Fiberworks.  Included in this kit is merino/tencel roving, beads and the pattern for a scarf.  I hope I can do it justice, Gracie!!  The timing of the package couldn't have been better after last week's news.

I've wanted to make the Pacific Grove Pullover from Just One More Row for a few years now.  I bought Elann's Pasticcio cotton in a denim blues for it.  So soft.

Now for the non-knitting...  I have the best readers. Really. Thanks so much for all of your support and kind words.  It might take me a few days, but I'll write each of you who commented personally.

Those that asked about Jeremy... he's due back at Ft. Lewis, WA in early October.  He'll have about three months and then he's getting out, moving to Indiana and going to college (which he'd be done with if he'd listened to his mother in the first place!)  Even though we'll have a great distance between us, it'll be good to have him back in the States again.

It's not so much that I'm a strong woman... it's that I'm just plain used to it.  Our two years during this tour in Germany is the most time Dan and I have spent together in our 12 years of marriage.  We often joke that it's the reason we made it this far.  We only knew each other for three weeks when Dan proposed and a little over a month later we got married (we were both in the Army at the time and it was the only way we could be together once we left the class we were going to at Ft. Devens, MA (God, I wish that post was still open). He was stationed in San Antonio and I was at NSA in Ft. Meade, MD).  I know.  Crazy.  It's worked out for us though.  We are still happily married and I'd choose him all over again in a second.  He can be an ornery pain in the arse, but he's a lot of fun and he's one of those guys that very few people dislike.  Here he is with his three favorite things...  A beer, a cigar and his Pancho Villa Mexican Revolution T-shirt.  lol.  What a catch!  ;-)

At any rate, military families stick together in times like this.  Especially overseas.  We become each other's families over here.  Besides two other major deployments, he was gone TDY (temporary duty) 2-3 weeks out of every six doing body guard duties for the Secretary of Defense and others.  When Dan went to Bosnia, I was in a little tiny town (the only American) here in Germany and Daniel was two.... now **that** was a rough deployment.  That was when the whole autism thing was really starting to become apparent.  It was the worst winter Germany had in years and I was on a little country road that they didn't plow often.  When Dan went to the Pentagon on the afternoon of  9/11/2001, Daniel was seven and Joe was two.  Granted, that one was only for a little over a month, but I've never been so worried about him.  Emotionally, that was the hardest deployment for him because of the things he saw inside of the Pentagon and for me because the second night he was in the building it collapsed and caught on fire again.  It was such an uneasy and scary time in our country and he was away from us.  I could actually watch the TV and see where he was the entire time.  Then he went to Afghanistan four months later for eight months.  We were at Ft. Campbell, KY and people just aren't as close in the States.  I felt very alone, Daniel was a huge handful in the melt-down phase and Joe was still so small. 

:-)  So you see, this one should be a piece of cake comparatively.  The boys are older.  They are both in school this time, so I'll at least have my days free.  I have great friends here.  I have the satisfaction of knowing Dan is somewhere that he knows.  The hard part is for the hurt the boys will feel.  Daniel will be hitting his pre-teens.  He needs his Dad even though he doesn't know it.  Joe is completely the clone of Dan and they are best buds.  Joe ADORES his father.  When Dan came home from Afghanistan the last time we had to drive to Atlanta to pick him up.  Joe wouldn't let go of his hand.  He told Dan, "Dad, promise you won't ever leave me like that again"  I almost had to pull the car over I was so upset.  He was 3 1/2 at the time.

One of the things I don't like about Dan being CID is that I won't have another wife around to join in my misery for the deployment.  All the families here in our community had each other to lean on and keep each other company while the entire community was in Iraq.  With CID it's one guy from this office and one from another office.....  It's not a whole unit going at once.  I know I can count on my friends, but a lot of the support functions are gone and it is a lonely time.  Trust me, there'll be days when I won't want to get out of bed or I'll be so miserable I don't like to be around myself, but I'll have to work through it for the boys.  On the good side of the coin, because Dan is CID he can contact me easily.  He always has phones and computers that he can use.  In fact, we probably communicate more when he's deployed than we do when he's home.  Web cams, phone calls and email help immensely and being CID, it's much easier to come by for us than a lot of other troops.

I took myself out of the Send a Soldier To The Movies.  I did it before finding out about the deployment for various reasons.  There must have been some ESP at play.  I'll help the group of wives that's going to take it on (a community about 30 min. from us was just deployed to Iraq).  They'll be much better suited for it because they are a large group of women that can work together on it while their husbands are deployed.

All that said... I'm happy to report that Dan hits 18 years in March.  Retirement isn't far off.  With any luck, this will be his last deployment.  :-)

Comments

[JoAnne]

Me again...I too spent time at Devens - which I loved because it's close to home - I did the K3 course there and then BNCOC. It sounds like you've got your hands full these days...but good friends and loving family to help you through it. Drop me a line if you like, we could reminisce. Jo

[Bookish Wendy]

Sending you love and support!

[lynne]

You have a good spirit about this, Jean, and that is an inspiration. You certainly deserve that big box of stuff from Elann! Don't you love the Jo Sharp mohair?

[kathy b]

You are a strong and inspiring woman.

[Freyalyn]

I only catch up with you once a week or so (limited computer time) so I've just read the last couple of posts. Oh sweetie, you have all my sympathy. But it's a great photo of Dan - that's one contented-looking man! I have only one thing to say - keep knitting...

[Erica]

I'm always up the road if you need an escape. Speaking of, we really need to try again.

[Laurie~Green-Eyed Grrl]

Here's my advice. Lock yourself in the bathroom (so as not to frighten the babes) and then cry your heart out. At least that's what I'd do. It's all good to be brave but sometimes a good cry can clean out all that cobwebby stuff in your heart. Bless you.

[Gerlinde]

Jean I like your positive attitude.Keep it going.My Hubby was in the Army for 20 years and it can get lonely once in awhile,but for as long as you love each other nothing can hurt you. As for the Boy's ,have them make a personnel tape for their Dad. Either Vidio or just Recorder. Something they can do on their own,so they can realy tell Dad how they feel ,or just tell him everyday things. We did that and send them to my Husband and he loved to hear from each of his Kids.Made him feel like he was still at home and made the kids feel good because they could still talk to Dad. Keep your chin up,one day you will look back and actually miss these military times. Gerlinde

[kendall]

We may not be around the corner, but you've got all of us for emotional support when you need us, right folks?

[Miriam]

If you're looking for a soft yarn to compliment that Rare Comfort Mohair, I would suggest KnitPicks Andean Treasure (http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarn_display.aspx?itemid=5420107) I got some in the mail and I even brought it with me to work today so I could just pet it whenever I wanted to. Good Luck with the deployment, at least you will have good contact, but I'm sure it will still be hard. *hug* Miriam

[Margene]

You are inspiring with your attitude. Being a single mom over and over is big challenge with a big benefit at the end. ;-) Prayers for you, the boys and for Dan's safe return.

[Daryl]

Ah Jean, it does seem cruel to have planned to come to the States this summer, then suddenly not only to not be coming home, but face another year, AND with Dan away. Sounds like you are doing a great job of looking for the silver linings. At least you won't have to deal with the change in schools and doctors for Daniel. We ache for you around the world. Have you read Kite Runner, it is a beautiful novel about a young boy/man from Afghanistan. Daryl

[michelle]

If it wasn't for the hard times, the good times would not be so sweet. At least you will never take for granted that man of yours, or all he is to you and your family. Not to mention what a deployment does for the labedo on return! ;) Awaiting my DH return. Wishing you and yours a speedy two years. We still have 10 to go.

[Becca]

you are amazing ... I am so thankful for your courage and confidence ... a great example for younger military wives. i hope the boys do well ...

[Gracie]

Hurrah! I'm so glad the package made it!! I am sure you will do the roving justice. It looks like it probably spins so nicely. Is that from your gift certificate? I totally forgot to ask you if you got it!

[Chris]

Jean, Jeremy will be in Indiana! Hey, it's right up my alley, actually it's in my alley. If you feel comfortable letting us know where he is we would be happy to be his "contact" for anything he needs. Although I doubt he would need yarn and needles. But please tell me he isn't going to IU? Anywhere but IU! Purdue is a lovely school. USI (Southern Indiana) is a beautiful school. U of Evansville is EXPENSIVE but lovely. Ball state is as far from me as possible.

[BrendaS]

Ft. Devens! I live in Littleton.. just down the road from there. I love hearing your stories :) brenda

[bets]

Mark has the same Pancho Villa print on a poster. May I send it to Dan while he's deployed? Puhhhleez? (that would get it out of my house, and Dan would love it) B

[Jessica]

Snort. Love, love, love the photo of Dan. Does he know that you posted it on the internet for all the knitters of the world to see?

[Renee]

Hang in there! Your positive attitude and the great love in your family will certainly be a big help during this difficult time! My uncle is at NSA in Ft. Meade. His name is Pat Hollaren - did you know him?

[Kathleen]

Jean, your optimism is inspiring. And don't be saying you're not strong! I am impressed and amazed by all that you have been through. And all that you have accomplished. I couldn't imagine being a military wife. Heck, I didn't like being a military sister. You hang in there Jean. You've got some cyber family here for you and the boys too!

[Kerstin]

Nothing is better than chocolate. Nothing. (Ok, so I exaggerate.) I cannot imagine what my three would be like if Pete took off for months at a time. Hell, he just left for a three night business trip to San Antonio (the most he's ever gone and he doesn't have to go much) and they're all bitchin' and moanin' up a storm. I suggested that the four of them would have loads of fun travelling on business together ... well, I can dream, right? Hang in there, lady. You've been through worse and having your days to yourself ain't so bad. The nights? Well, there's always those blow-up dolls ... ;)