Homecoming

A lot can happen during a 7 month deployment. New stuff, new home, your bird turning into a cyborg. Find out what happened later in the year....

Sup Bro

*Record scratch*

Ok, Beauty and the Beast parody over. We're gettin' for realsies now.

I knew about Hawaii. I knew months ago the ship would be going there so of course I booked a flight....

But I was going off a vague schedule and word of mouth so I was off by two days.

It actually worked out fine though because Skippy had to work all day anyway.

But seeing the navy wives that were already there post videos and pictures of reuniting with their husbands, my anxiety went through the roof. I barely ate and that night, even after popping TWO melatonin pills to knock my ass out, I was up. So around 4am, I decided I was done waiting.

I managed to get down a fruit parfait and a few ginger candies at the airport, but my stomach was in knots the whole trip. I got maybe 20 minutes of sleep. Fortunately, I had a good seat where I could get up without annoying people to use the bathroom. The belly dragon's wrath was in full swing and it got even worse when the island came into view.

Skippy had texted me earlier that day saying he was going to try to get a hotel later. So when we landed I texted back,

Me: Get a hotel?
Skippy: Yes!
Me: Room to yourself?
Skippy: Yes!
Me: Good, I'm going to need a place to stay tonight.
Skippy: ?
Me: I'm here.
Skippy: YAY!!!

A fellow navy wife picked me up at the airport and drove me into the city. She tried to find street parking first, but I think she realized I was about ready to fling myself into the road so she dropped me off at the hotel entrance instead.

The reunion went.... pretty much the way I expected it to go...

I won't lie, I cried. A lot. I dropped everything and bear-hugged him and would not let go. I swear I didn't even breathe for the first minute.

Those seven months felt like a slingshot. Each month seemed to stretch longer than the last and in that moment I hugged him, those seven long months slammed into me all at once. The sleepless nights, watching the sunrise, all the things I did without him, there was so much. But it was done. We were finally together again.

As I finally inhaled and the dragon in my gut faded, I kept telling myself that it was real. Actually REAL.

I hadn't felt that wonderful in a long time.

....

And then we went out and drank and I tried not to fall asleep standing up because I was technically up for 24 hours straight. There was still a lingering ache in my stomach but it was from not eating.

But you know... I'd do it again and again. It was worth it.

He had to return to the ship a few days later, but the "goodbye" was so much easier. Soon I won't be the only weirdo in the city. It's much better when you have another weirdo at your side. Because people stop judging you and start to envy you because you're having way more fun than they are.

Plus I really need him with me so I don't swear at the charity workers. They really are pushy bastards around here.

Bonus drawing: