Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

The other anniversary

Today marks 4 years since our wedding.  I heard from Mark yesterday, he was in Alaska.  I have no idea where he is now, but I hope he notices the date and smiles on account of us and everything we have overcome and been through together.

I'm loving and missing him.

Wishing I were celebrating

Today is the 8th anniversary of the day Mark and I officially became a couple.  And I did really well, emotionally, all day.  Till now.  It's the evening, the time where on an ordinary day Mark would be sitting on the couch in half of his uniform, watching TV and snuggling with the kids while I cooked dinner.

A little over an hour ago, Amaris saw through our sliding glass door that someone was coming to the building in cammies and she said, "LOOK, Mommy, my DADDY!"

It broke my heart.  Like, into a billion pieces.

Pair that with the fact that I was supposed to get a phone call this afternoon from him, during which I had planned to tell him "Happy anniversary!"...  but he didn't call.  I'm sure he has some great excuse, but for the moment I am just so disappointed that I didn't get to talk to him like he said I would.

All day I did so well.  I took a shower, I got myself dressed (mostly), I was productive!  And then before I knew it, I was crying again.  I'm ready for a fast-forward button.

Alone.

I sent Mark off on his deployment this evening.  That means I'm facing 6-10 months of heartache and loneliness.  Have I mentioned before that I hate being alone?

I do.  I hate being alone.  In fact, I think I'm terrified of being alone.  I don't mean I'm one of those women who depends heavily simply on "having a man".  I just mean that since I've got one, I don't want to be without him.  He is my companion.  One of those cheesy Myspace surveys asked if my significant other was my "everything".  My answer was that it's not possible for any one person to be my whole everything, but he's certainly a huge part of it.  I always think of "When Harry Met Sally" - the line at the end where Billy Crystal says "when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."  I apply that movie quote to pretty much everything in my relationship.  I feel like it means that you want to be with that person as much as you can.  Uninterrupted would be preferable.  With the Marine Corps in the middle, that's obviously a little less possible.  But I can still dream.

I was all big talk that I could handle this deployment, but now that it comes down to it, I'm a big baby.  I'm scared, I'm stressed, I'm anxiety-ridden to say the least.  I got the girls home and immediately Cadence, my easygoing, calm, peaceful baby burst into screams and tears.  She did that for about 20 minutes.  I couldn't help thinking to myself, "Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?"  I've spent the day sobbing - my face is red and puffy to serve as the proof.

It's real now.  He's far away.  I hate it.  I know I'll start feeling better soon and I'll make it through it, but for now I'm miserable and sad.

Love you long time

The past two weeks have been really long and drawn out without Mark here, but today I penciled in his return flight on the calendar and I felt a split second of sheer bliss.  He'll be here soon!  Granted, he'll be leaving again soon, but having him here even for just a little while will be a welcome break from the doom and gloom of his extremely quickly approaching deployment.

We've got dates scheduled for before he leaves and I am really excited to get to spend time with him before he goes away again.  Absence sucks royally, but it's true what they say about the things it does to your heart.  For the next couple of days, I'll be cleaning house and getting everything ready for him to come home to a low-stress, happy environment.  The poor guy deserves a little break.

Skype Me

Skype is the best.  Mark can be on the opposite side of the world and still be right here at home with me, even if just for a few minutes.

Health

Well, on the flip side of yesterday's excruciatingly pessimistic blog, there is this.  Which is still bad news, but it actually has a purpose.

The evening before last, a man residing in this building died.  He was not old.  He was not unhealthy.  He was not much different from my own husband.  Had arrived on Okinawa in August, just recently celebrated an anniversary with his young wife, had a lovely two year old, and was in a steady and strong Marine Corps career.

In fact, he not only lived in this building.  He also worked in the same building Mark works in.  Mark knew him and considered him a friend.  His death hits close to home.  Well, when you consider that he lived just 4 floors above us, his death kind of hits home, period.

The most tragic part is that he did not have to die.  Several days ago, he was misdiagnosed at medical and was sent home and told that he was suffering from an ear infection.  As it turns out, he had meningitis.

Now, this community is small.  We are in close quarters regardless of whether or not we want to be.  When things like this happen, it affects us all in one way or another.  In the Marine Corps family life, it's not expected, per se, but is at least understood moreso than in many other career paths that death is a possibility.  You send your husband away on deployments and regardless of how confident you feel in his abilities, you are well aware of the daunting fact that he might not make it home with a heartbeat.  Sudden deaths like this somehow feel even scarier.  Even while your husband is home with you, working "normal" hours and you think he is completely safe, life is so precious.  It's impermanent.  It's fragile.  And quite frankly, it can end at any time, anywhere.  It's incredibly unfortunate that it takes tragedy to jog society's communal memory about those things.

I've been selfish.  I've taken for granted all of the things that I've unintentionally expected to always be there.  Tomorrow, for example.  My family.  My health.  I am so fortunate.  I am so blessed to have these seemingly simple things.

Life is a blessing.  Hold your loved ones a little closer tonight and appreciate their existence, please.  And say a little prayer for those less fortunate.

lovelovelove

I'm really loving this.  My girls are the best.


I didn't believe it when people told me during my pregnancy (and believe me, I had a LOT of people telling me this) but you really DO just magically produce more love.  I honestly couldn't tell you any difference in my love for Amaris versus my love for Cadence.  I love them both exactly the same.  And I couldn't tell you any difference in my love for Amaris now versus my love for Amaris one week ago when Cadence was still floating around in my uterus.  It's amazing.  Today she was napping in her little bouncy seat and I looked at Mark and said, "It's so weird, I feel like she has never NOT been a part of the family.  I feel like she's just always been here, you know?"  He agreed.  She is such a peaceful, sweet little girl.  And even Amaris has adjusted to her beautifully, she is constantly concerned about her well-being and her goings-on...  And she really seems to adore her, she talks to her, sings to her, gives her kisses, checks on her throughout the day and asks to hold her.  It's really like she's been in our lives all along.

Anyways Mark makes fun of me, he says I was acting like love was a glass of water - like I was giving Amaris my only love and if I were to give love to someone else, it would be like taking some of the water out of Amaris' glass.  During my pregnancy it kind of did feel like that.  But now that Cadence is here, I get it.  Love really does grow.  Love multiplies.  And no matter how many people you feel like you're giving all your love to, there will somehow always be a way to give more.  Most importantly, even though it feels like it will, your heart isn't going to burst.  The seams are sewn together with something that feels like elastic.

Mount Zubba Bubba

Amaris decides when it's time to go to sleep.

Today around 5PM she opted to take a nap. She didn't bother to let me know, she just went off down the hall unannounced and into our bedroom. She carefully took the pillows down from Mark's side of the bed and then tucked herself (and "B") in cozily and ventured off to dreamland.

Usually when the house gets quiet, I enjoy the peace for a few minutes and then realize that she is probably making trouble somewhere. This was one of those times. And then I found her looking absolutely as peaceful and as cozy as she possibly could have there in bed and my heart just completely swelled with adoration.



Sometimes being a mom really is the best job in the world.

As an added bonus, instead of her usual crabby mood upon waking up, she woke up and came bouncing down the hall in good spirits. I'm grateful for days like these.

Not all it's cracked up to be.

The last time I was hit on was when I lived in Fresno. I was... Oh, 17 years old or so, and was with my friend Jackie at a pool hall. This little guy came up to me, and said, "Do you like to party?"

I was caught off-guard. I said, "What??" So he repeated, "Do you like to party?" I thought it was funny. So I laughed a little bit uneasily and said, "No.."

He persisted, "So.. You don't want to go to a party with me tonight?"

"Um... No. Thanks."

"Okay, well have a nice night then."

And then he was gone. The exchange was over just like that. Up until then, every time I'd ever been 'hit on' was while I was walking from class to my car at Fresno City College. Inevitably some guy would fall into step beside me and strike up awkward conversation. I can't even remember, looking back, where these conversations went as they were so brief and so "in passing," but I do know that my 'marital status' was always brought up. And then suddenly, after learning that I was engaged, the conversation would end and I'd be left to walk the rest of the way to my car alone, chuckling to myself.

Last night we were at a party by the lake (this is where most, if not all, parties in San Angelo occur for us) and Mark was off drinking beers and socializing while I sat alone (being the vivid social butterfly that I am) text messaging my friend, Ifer. Oh how I wish that he'd learn to not leave me by myself at parties. Are there any husbands in existence who don't do this to their wives? I would love to know.

One of the guys, Doug, noticed my alone-ness and called me over to sit near him and his wife. They were about 6 feet away at a picnic table. They were talking with a guy I'd never met before. I got up, still sending a text as I did so, and sat down on the bench next to the unrecognized guy, who quickly attempted to scoot over. I then realized I was rude in "assing him over". So I said, "Oh, no, you're okay."

He said, "Why? Because you've got a skinny butt?" I blinked several times. And then said, "Uh, no, honestly because I am really used to sharing my space."

Then Doug and his wife started quizzing me on why I was alone at a party. So I told them that I was a loner. And then the guy next to me goes, "Why? You're cute. And sexy. And if you're cute and sexy, all you have to do is ask."

I suddenly felt extremely grossed out. I looked at him with one eyebrow up and said, "Ask for WHAT?" It was then that I took a look at him. A probably 40something bachelor with both ears pierced, scruffy facial hair, and a beer belly.

He said, "Well, you know, whatever."

I waited for a good opportunity and then pointed out my "worse half". To which the 40-year-old-gross-o said, "Oh! Which one is he? Need to know these things, you know."

And then he took the opportunity to scold me for being married young. And proceeded to explain to me that the reason I was so quick to fall into the arms of a man and get married was because I probably had a bad childhood and no father figure.

Which irritated me beyond all reason. So I said, "Actually, my husband and I dated for over four years before we got married. We didn't 'rush into' anything. And now we've been married for over three and a half years."

He piped down for a bit, and then Amaris walked by, playing with bubble wands. And he said, "I have not heard that kid talk the whole time I've been here." Clearly he didn't realize he was sitting next to and had just finished hitting on and then scolding "that kid's" mother. In fact I'm pretty sure he didn't realize I was a parent at all. So I said, "Oh, she talks nonstop." And then I called her over, and she turned and saw me there and said with the world's biggest and brightest smile, "HI MOMMY!"

I've never been so proud in my life.

Beer belly scooted away to allow space for Amaris to sit next to me on the bench.

I stayed there a while and then got up. Later on, beer belly lit up a cherry scented cigar and I was further disgusted by him and his existence.

There is a certain dignity in how you choose to hit on someone, and how you react to being shot down. He didn't have an ounce of respectability. Just because you're bummed that you're 40something and single, and I am a happily married girl HALF your age... Doesn't mean you ought to try and make me miserable, too. Sometimes it really is that simple. I found it, you didn't. I hate to be mean, but at least butt out when you're given the proper cues to do so. And unless you know me, or know anything about me, you ought to not open your big ugly trap and tell me about my issues and mistakes and weaknesses. That's just silly.

Re-think

For now I am in limbo. I won't have any solid ideas until I am looking at a copy of Mark's orders. He has a few other options he is going to try and work out in between now and "then". We don't have a lot of time, but at the same time we'll be here at least until mid-September. So for now there isn't any immediate rush, I guess. It's not like we are looking at sorting this all out by tomorrow or anything. Not for the moment, anyways. I'm really working on curbing my stress over the situation, and am trying to remind myself on a very regular basis that these things have a way of working themselves out.

On the other hand, I am allowing myself to get a little excited about Okinawa. It wasn't our "first choice"... Or even our second, third, or fourth. But it is certainly going to be an experience. How many families get an opportunity to live abroad, expenses paid, for 3 years? Especially in a place as famously beautiful as Okinawa! I hear the beaches are fantastic, and that there are plenty of things to do on the island. Plus we will just be a short trip from Japan, should we decide to do any major traveling during our tour there. I'm trying to find the silver lining. By this time next year, we'll be sipping Miso soup in a foreign country! Well, okay, maybe saying it like that is just a tad overwhelming. But you get the idea.

Tonight is our first date night in a really long time. Jen is coming over around 5 to watch Amaris and we're going to eat Teppan-Yaki and see a movie. No major plans or anything but I am excited to have some time to spend with Mark. It's been too long.

Last night, after naptime and dinner, we took Amaris to the theater to see Kung Fu Panda. It was her first time in a movie theater. She did really well. She got through the first hour without issue, and got a bit antsy, so I took her to the bathroom for a diaper change. Her diaper was by no means full, so I put her on the toilet and to my surprise I heard the tinkling sounds of her peeing! She peed in a big, adult-sized toilet! I was so impressed. Then we went back and she was still a little bit over-excited, so Mark took her for more fruit snacks at the concession stand, and then she was mostly fine until the movie ended. I think it was a cute movie, but I can't be 100% sure, because I was more interested in what she was doing. I had to contain my laughter every time she made a comment about the movie. "Oh gosh! Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh!" Or, "Oh no, a mess. Oh no, a mess! Oh no, a mess! A mess! A mess!" And of course, "Wowwwww... Wowwwwww..." She is crazy. I think she had fun though. After the movie we toyed with the idea of going bowling, but decided against it because we weren't sure how Amaris would last through a game of bowling. I think she'd have been fine - she likes bowling. But Mark wasn't so sure. I think he was just being a party pooper.

Anyways, this was kind of all over the place. But I feel like I'm kind of all over the place these days myself. Things are bound to simmer down soon.

No better friend than an anemone...

We've been watching a lot of Noggin lately.



I could beat Moose A. Moose up. This little video comes on about 30 times per day. I find it to be cute and irritating and catchy and monotonous. I know, bad mom letting the TV be on so much, but honestly it's just nice to have some background noise. I don't like the house to be dead silent when it's just Amaris and me. And it's either Noggin or The Backyardigans, marathon style. Which gets a little tiring. Even moreso than "beside... the sea-side..."

Anyways, it amuses Amaris. And Noggin is like preschool... on TV.

This weekend is date night. I am hoping to go to the Japanese steak house and a movie. This'll be our first date in a really long time. I mean, we've gone and done things sans the Ami, like we went to a club in Fresno back in December, but it wasn't a date. And we went to the Marine Corps Ball last year... But that doesn't count either. That's, like, a mandatory event.

At any rate, I'm excited to have a date night. I haven't been to a movie in almost a year. The last movie I saw in the theater was "Hog Wild" (?? I think that's what it was called - the movie with Tim Allen), and I was in Switzerland. We're overdue.

Also, since I mentioned the Marine Corps Ball... I should also point out that I am now wondering what is going to happen this November. Since he'll be training somewhere... Will there be a ball? Will we go? I like to get a jump start on my dress shopping, and not knowing is hindering my ability to do so.

I just need to grow some patience. Easier said than done.