If everything goes as expected…
I will pick Mr. Hooah! up on Wednesday for 20 luxurious days of rest and relaxation. Well maybe luxurious, rest and relaxation should not be used to describe the entire time of medical leave. I am sure we will have sufficient medical follow-ups, including physical therapy, to keep us nice and busy.
We are facing integration of the very temporary and wounded kind. It’s a new beast to me, that’s for sure. I imagine that the circumstances around deployment would very much impact and color the reintegration stress. Actually now that I think about it I would have to say we are facing a “reacquainting” stress. He will come and go so fast that we simply can not integrate too much of daily life. If we did that then saying good bye again in 20 days would be way to hard. Also, not really being able to picture his scar or how this broken femoral bone has impacted him is stressful.
So, now my quandary is this… how can my husband come home, and I mean in every way possible, while no longer having a deeply embedded physical role outside of being the primary bread winner and the wonderful man we talk to on the phone? It’s all very complicated. I guess we will just have to very patient with one another. I know it will never be like before so this visit home will be a good introduction to the new us in the home and the physical life. We already know the new us through letters and phone calls.
Regardless I don’t want to over analyze it (notice the word anal is a major part of that word!). I am just ready to trade in the shirt I swiped from him last time we saw one another, for the real man, and his heartbeat.
It sounds like you both know to be patient with each other as you attempt to adjust to living together, even if it is just for a few days. I have no words of wisdom to offer beyond that.
I hope he heals fast for your, um, sanity. ;-)
Thinking of you!!
I’ll ditto bfw here Claire. All the best to you both in rehabbing,”reaquainting” and decision making.
Safe travels,
Cathy B
Thanks! This Army stuff really wreaks havoc on your emotions. It is the first time in my life that I have experienced emotions at the exact same time, that before felt negatively correlated with one another.
Like BW said be patient and I will add relax and don’t expect anything form each other. Everything will fall into place. Hubby and I are still working things out and he has been home over a month now.
Claire,
You love him and he loves you, the rest you will work out. Stay safe and take care of your soldier..
Shelly
I think Shelly just hit the nail on the head…..bet the Pirate is excited too!!
Apparently, I’m on a quotation kick these days…! Your post somehow reminded me of that famous poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. You may know it already:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints!—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Thank you Reasa, Shelly and Heather. It’s going to be new that’s for sure, but hey, we’re used to the new now!
Piper, perfect! You have a knack for picking the right quotes. That’s the sign of a well fed mind!