because it's his duty

so i'm all caught up on army wives from the last few sundays. and we've submitted our assignment list. and now as i sit here at my laptop, it's all coming together. sometime in the next year or so, i'll help him pack his duffel bags, hide little love notes in his gear, make our weekly trips to the post office and bravely wear a strong face because it's his duty.

as we filled out the assignment list, we checked each unit's deployment rotation. based on this info, we made our list. well, okay, we also used determining factors like actual location and distance to family and friends as factors too. the reality is, i know based on the list, there is a very strong possibility that aaron will go again. and just as much as i don't want him to go, i also know that he can't advance his career nor can he fulfill his service and personal need to serve without doing this tough duty.

how many other employers require their employees to willing throw themselves in the face of danger (okay, police and fire fighters) at a moments notice when we become involved in a conflict. sure, aaron could have resigned his rotc scholarship and never joined the army, but he would have not fulfilled his civic duty. and as emotionally draining as it is, i feel the same way about being his wife.

so, as we await the orders for our next duty station and plot out the timeline for trying for #2, the thought continues to linger in the back of my mind. with each training and with each assignment, we're one step closer again to saying 'good bye, God's speed. i love you and i'll wait for you.'