Kaden is coming home friends! The last time I saw him I stood there in the Meridian, MS airport in a daze. I left the airport, turned my shoulder one last time to see Kaden and his friends boarding the plane bound for Afghanistan. I drove 3 hours home, stopping first in Tuscaloosa to get a Wendy's chocolate frosty to somewhat help me from not crying. As I drove, Kaden texted me one last time saying what a trooper I was back in the airport. Driving home, I had no clue what this deployment would bring me, him, or us but I had faith in myself that I could stick it out through the sleepless nights and trying times. I kept telling myself, "You can DO this, Catherine," since my brother and many good friends have been deployed 3-5 times.
The following months consisted of phone calls from the USO (where I could actually hear Kaden clearly), Skype dates, and writing him a letter every single day. Other days brought me frustration where I didn't hear from Kaden for nearly a week because his internet went out and he was too lazy to walk to the USO to tell me he was ok. (Sorry honey :)
The Post Office started to see me every other week, wondering what in the world I was sending him next. Such things included:
Care packages wrapped in Alabama Crimson Tide duct tape, neon duct tape care packages, a message in a bottle that included 30 things I loved about him- one for each day of the month. The best package was by far the Blown Up Beach Ball I sent him as I asked everyone who came in contact with it to sign it. 4 or 5 postal workers signed it along the way and when it arrived in Afghanistan 6 DAYS later (inflated and all), someone came up to Kaden and said, "Uhh, man, you have something waiting for you in the mail room, your girlfriend just outdid herself."
It took 14 days for the first batch of letters to arrive in Afghanistan, and when they finally arrived he received 14 in one day. He said I broke the record for the most letters in one day! Bam!
I tried my hardest to be a supportive and loving girlfriend because Kaden deserved to hear a happy and upbeat voice on the other end of the line. Sometimes I would be so frustrated with the internet connection (because I couldn't hear a single word he was saying) that I would take it out on him. I give Kaden props for putting up with all of my sassy-ness and know-it-all moments. As I reflect back today, I can finally say "WE MADE IT." We made it through laughs, tears, long conversations, and the adversity of a deployment. While it's definitely not an easy thing, it is doable.
Sorry for the ranting and raving readers, I'm nearly done :)
If I had one thing to say to anyone who asked about my experience and what it taught me, I would tell you
ENJOY THE TIME WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
We all know life can get in a routine that may be monotonous at times, but if you have someone special or even your family, Enjoy them at all times. I just spent nearly 180 days without going out to dinner or even just having a face to face conversation. Saying that, 180 days is usually short when dealing with a deployment because other branches may sometimes go a year.
The other night at work, (Buffalo Wild Wings), I was closely watching this couple on a date. It was clear to me they weren't just "brother and sister" and as I observed, I noticed myself getting jealous. They were sitting there at dinner, less than 2 feet away from one another, texting away on their dang cell phones. She was texting and he was texting, and they were paying NO attention to one another. They were on those stupid things for nearly the whole entire time they waited and it took every single thing in me to hold back from saying something to them. Jokingly of course, I would have said "Do you know what I would give to be in your shoes right now?" That's merely just one example of spending your time efficiently.
So my fellow blog readers :) it's my time. Time to go on a date and time to hold my boyfriends hand again. To all of you out there, thank you so much for listening to my stories and being an uplifting friend to me. Thank you for all the persistent prayers throughout this time. It's been a journey and we are finally near the end!
And Kaden, THANK YOU for being one of the most amazing men I know. You have made me laugh countless times, made me cry just a few times ha, and assured me that we were going to make it. Babydoll, we made it! I love you with all of my heart and I'm so ready to not say, "What was that?" "Huh" "Baby, I can't hear you." :)
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!
