The distance

Finding out that I was going to deploy to Afghanistan in September was very exciting news for me.  I called my family and told them and they just did not seem as excited as I was.  But they support me in whatever I do.  I knew that since the deployment was not scheduled for a year, things could change.  In early November I remember being told that things had changed.  Well yes, things had really changed.  Instead of deploying in September 2011 I was deploying in February 2011.  Which was just a few months later.  I was still very excited as I did join the Army to defend my country.  And I have wanted the chance to deploy for years.  I knew that I would miss my family, but I have not really lived close to them in years. 

I felt lucky, I did not have a husband or a long term boyfriend to leave behind.  Which would make it a lot easier to leave.

Not even a week later, I was flirting with a cute guy that I had talked to a couple of times at my friends house.  I had told her that he was cute and wanted to know what he was all about.  Well upon arriving to my friends house, her husband told me that this friend had told him that he thought I was cute.  Well, after several hours of talking, flirting and hanging out with this guy, named Will, he told me that he was interested in getting to know me.  I can admit, I had been drinking all I said was "yeah." Probably does not help that I am very shy when it comes to guys.  I ended up hurting my collar bone that night and Will took care of me.  Obviously since we had been drinking everyone stayed at the house.  In the morning, Will woke me up to make sure I was okay and got me some aspirin.  

I remember wanting to leave the house and go home and shower and lay down because my arm and my shoulder were hurting so bad.  But I did not want to leave without Will's number.  But I was too shy to ask.  He was pacing back and fourth in the house saying that he was going to leave.  Funny enough, I had my friends husband ask him if he was going to give me his number.   my phone was dead, so I could not get his number, but I gave him mine.  Honestly, I did not think I would hear from him.  Well not even an hour after I got home, I receieved a text message checking on how my shoulder was.  We exchanged texts all throughout the day and planned on going to dinner the next day after work.  Honestly, I had no intention of having a relationship with this guy, but he was someone to hang out with and he looked good.  Well the next morning when I woke up, I could barely move my arm and it hurt like hell.  I went to the doc and they told me to drink water.  After talking to a medical officer they told me that I needed to go back to the doctor.  Problm was, it wasn't until about 1700.  Thats when I should have been going home getting ready to go to dinner.  Well of course, my phone was not getting very good reception to explain to Will.  But when I did, he offered to bring me Carrabas to the hospital. That definetly brought a smile to my face.  But instead he waited for me and took me to dinner, even when I was wearing a sling on my arm looking like a dork.  He even fed me, since I could not raise my arm.  I was like WOW, this guy is a sweetheart.  But again, I just wanted to hang out and be friends.  Over the next few days, we exchanged texts all throughout the day, had lunch together and would spend the evenings together.  I enjoyed my time with him more and more.  

I remember getting ready to head to Louisiana to see my family and did not really want to leave.  I enjoyed hanging out with Will.  But, we texted the whole entire time I was driving.  I remember when he asked me to be his GF on Thanksgiving.  I was so happy! 

Over the next several weeks everyone told me that I was so giddy and so happy.  He would bring me starbucks when I was having a bad day or he would buy me flowers just because.  How could I not fall in love with him.  He is the most caring, trusthworthy, funny, attractive, loving and adorable guy I have ever met.  

He showed up to my work one day and had this frantic look on his face and he asked me if we could talk in the conference room.  I thought for sure, he was going to break up with me.  Especially after he told me to shut the door.  But no, he had brought me in there to tell me he loved me.  I was so happy, I was speechless.  Literally I did not say anything.   

For Christmas/New Years we went to visit my family and his family.  Everyday, I just continued to love him more and more.  But just a little more than a month after we got back, I was to deploy for a year.  That was scary.

Well, now I am here and it has just made me realize more and more everyday, that I truly have found the most amazing guy.  When he wakes up in the morning, he sends me an email.  When he goes on lunch we exchange emails and when he gets home at night, we sit and talk on Skype for hours.  On the weekends he come and Skypes with me first thing in the morning and then several hours throughout the day and sends me emails on facebook all day.  He sends me packages almost every week.   And he even puts our puppy on Skype to talk to his mommy!

It is just weird to me, because I was so scared to open myself up and allow myself to love him knowing that I was about to deploy.  But he is what makes this deployment easier.  Even through the distance and all these miles, he always continues to put a smile on my face.  And makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive.  

What I have learned from this:  There are always risk that are worth taking.  Sometimes the things that scare us the most are something that we should face and in the end, that risk can make you happier than ever!!!  I love you Will :)