Enduring the wait

Currently Justin is serving 12 excruciatingly long months in Iraq with the Army National Guard. Fortunately he has served almost 5 months, so it's dwindling down one long day after another. For the soldiers' families at home, life has been rudely interrupted, and we have been forced to stay positive while we wait for our other half to join us again. We wait and we wait. Nothing is the same when your companion is missing at family or social functions, meals are less than exciting when you're unable to share them with each other, and you miss being able to talk about anything and everything on a daily basis. Although Internet enables us to communicate more regularly than ever before, I find the quality is compromised in more ways than one. This is the sacrifice you make when signing up for this - sure there are perks - great benefits, increased pay, a soldier's sense of pride and contribution to his country, but does it all balance out? Is it worth it? I don't have the answer to that question. We'll try to remember this when 'they' ask him to re-enlist. Next post will be more positive.