We've all heard the saying, "You don't know what you've got until it's gone..."
I understood it, sure, but I had never really known what it meant until I deployed to Iraq. I'm home for R&R for a few more days, and I'm "loading up" on the little things in preparation for going back over there...
I missed driving my own car... Windows down, heavy metal music blasting from the speakers, and in the right lane of traffic... I don't have to worry about switching back and forth, into and out of oncoming traffic, to keep from setting a pattern that some insurgent can turn around and use to ambush me with... I missed getting annoyed at tailgaters following me at less than a 3-second gap... Granted, I
almost wish I was back over in Iraq, at least there I can put a warning shot or burst across the front of your car if you get too close...
I missed being able to sleep in on weekends, and maybe have my wife/daugter come and wake me up with a kiss, a cup of coffee, and maybe even breakfast in bed... Real bacon and eggs and buttered (real butter, too!!!) toast, YUM!!!
I missed being able to go outside and feel the green grass under my bare feet... So much so that during the trip back, we stopped in Houston (DFW was under some sort of weather restriction), and I had the opportunity to get off the plane, take off my boots, and walk around barefoot in the grass for a while, and I took full advantage of it... No land mines to worry about...
I missed being able to run down to the corner store for a gallon of milk or whatever without having to put on my whole "battle-rattle"... 40+ pounds of body armor, ammunition, and combat gear in general kind of puts a damper on your mood...
Since I mentioned the store, I miss paying sales tax on whatever it is I buy, and getting COINS back as change... The PXs over there have these "legal tender" POGs that they use, so they don't ahev to deal with pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters... See the pic? WTF is that about???
I missed being able to head out to the gun range and shoot FOR FUN... That, and not worrying about the targets shooting back... I went yesterday for some "Daddy Alone" time, and had a blast once I got over the shock of realizing I was actually having FUN...
Most of all, I missed spending quality time with my wife and daughter...
I missed holding my wife, whether it was during our intimate moments
, or just holding her hand as we walk through a store, etc. Talking on the phone or over the 'net is great, but nothing beats having her right there next to me...
I missed hugging/snuggling/holding my daughter... I missed hearing her tell me, "I love you, Daddy!" in that beautiful little voice of hers... Squeezing my neck, laughing and giggling when we play together, just being blissfully innocent...
I've been spending as much time with them as I can... I know I have to pack up and had back over there in a few days, and I'm not looking forward to it, but I know I have to do it... I am, however, taking full advantage of every minute of every hour of every day, taking absolutely
nothing for granted... I know it will all be here for me when I come back, and I may end up taking those small things for granted all over again, but for now, I'm living every moment to the fullest...
I hope that everyone can take a step back, realize the wonderful things that you may be taking for granted, and re-discover the simple joys that they can bring...
