Our "I'm Thankful" Moment

Every year around the Thanksgiving dinner table, if you are with The Misses family you are required to tell everyone what you are thankful for. I sent The Misses an email and explained how it went for me…..
So my "I’m thankful" moment didn't turn out like I had planned. I started with "I have never been more thankful for the internet and the telephone”..... Silence...I was so over come with emotion that I couldn't speak. Tears just rolled down my face and I buried my face in a napkin. I don’t know how long I stayed like that, but it felt like forever. I finally was able to spit out "This is so hard without her. I didn’t think it would be this hard”..... More silence and sobbing. I think I managed to thank your Mom and Dad for their support, but then I was done. I just couldn't stop crying.
Sitting next to me was TP. When she started into you being thankful for me I couldn’t hold it back again. I guess you have worn off on me. Shit I am crying here again. I could hear all of your family sobbing too. Your Aunt Lavern softly said "how precious". I really don’t think there was a dry eye in the place.

The Misses got off easy (if you can call eating a turkey dinner in a combat zone easy). She had pre written something and had her sister TP read it…..
Hey Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving!!! I truly hope all of you are doing well. I wish I could be there but since I am unable to, I thought I would write and let you all know what I am thankful for this year. I have also attached some pics of my Thanksgiving meal in the chow hall here. SSG Rose Ledford was my date and we had a great dinner. Of course it was no home cooked meal, but it was good. As for what I am thankful for, prepare yourself, my list is long. This is truly a list of what I am grateful for and why. We are all so blessed with so many small things we forget what they are until we don’t have them anymore. So in no particular order, here is my list: drum roll please,
1. Sidewalks. Walking in sand, dirt, and/or rocks all day everyday gets really old. Especially when you have weak ankles.
2. Street Lamps. Yep walking on previously stated terrain is not any easier at night, in the dark.
3. Telephones, yep the old fashion kind that actually are connected to a cord in your house. Mine are ½ a mile away that you can only get to by walking on previously stated terrain. Refer to number 1.
4. Cell phones. Need I say more?
5. Fly swatters, fly sticky strips, or anything that can help get rid of all these slow flying kamikaze flies. I swear, you swat one and 10 of his buddies show up.
6. A chow hall, food already prepared and ready to eat. Much easier to eat healthy when you don’t have to think about it.
7. A chow hall that is 0.7 miles away. Yep I have to walk that far to eat. I’m thankful for it though because when I do eat, I’m already burning those calories before and after. However with that said, I give you number…
8. A kitchen that is attached to my living space. A fridge, stove and all the food right there not 10 feet from me. The walking does get old, quick. Again, refer to number 1.
9. Free Gyms and exercise classes. I think the government should put that on the table to help keep Americans healthy. I know it helps me.
10. Internet, and email. Being able to keep in touch with family and friends more frequently and more often than snail mail. This is truly priceless.
11. High Speed Internet, we are truly spoiled with that. The stuff out here is slow…
12. Letters, as slow as snail mail is. There is nothing like seeing that someone took the time to actually write you a letter. To see their handwriting. With this said I need to apologize to my brother Greg that I didn’t do a better job of this for him. I hope he will forgive me.
13. A bathroom connected to your room, no wait a bathroom connected to your house. Let’s just say I have TBS (tiny bladder syndrome) and having to get up and use the bathroom some 30 feet away outside through a maze of buildings 1-2 times a night, does not help with a good night sleep. Oh and yet again please refer to number 1.
14. Porta Jons, yep I am thankful for them. Right now I wish there was one right outside my room. They are everywhere else, why can’t they put one there?
15. Long, hot, showers by yourself. Yep, I like them but here, no such thing. One, everyone else is taking a shower with you. Two, we are in a desert and we get to take “combat showers.” Example: step 1, water on, rinse. Step 2, water off, wash. Step 3, water on, rinse. The End. Oh, and by step 3, hot water is gone.
16. A bath. Again, need I say more? The truth is, it’s really not that bad over here. I know my set up could be much worse. I have a comfortable room and bed with a very nice roommate, Rose Ledford who I am sharing this experience with. I am learning and experiencing things I never have before so how could I not be thankful for my life. So now for the “cheesy” stuff. I am thankful for a country that allows us to choose what we believe and who we want to represent us. During this historical election year I have listened to Soldiers who all wear the same uniform and yet have very different beliefs on who they wanted to be their Commander in Chief. How lucky are we that is even possible, that they, that we, have a right to choose who our boss is. As a nation we are truly blessed for the opportunities we have and what this country has to offer. I want to thank every Soldier and their families. I am thankful for them and their sacrifice. Both truly do sacrifice for a Soldier’s service. The Mr. and I now actually know what that sacrifice is. I am mostly thankful for my family. I have parents both birth and in-laws who love me and care for me very much. I know that any of my family; all of my 4 sisters and 5 brothers would do anything for me. I am thankful for extended family that actually enjoy each other’s company at the holidays and get together to celebrate. I am also thankful for friends. You know who you are. We too have been through so much together and I appreciate all you have done to be there for the Mr. and I, especially during these last couple years.
The number one thing, no person I am thankful for is my dear Husband. I want you all to know that I know, I am so lucky to have him. He is my support, he is my rock, and he is my world. I would not be able to be here and do what I do if it wasn’t for him taking care of me and our life at home. We stay in contact everyday in some form or fashion, and this helps us to stay close. I am truly thankful that he is not only willing, but wants to do the work it takes to stay close while we are so far apart. There are not many men in this world willing to make such a sacrifice as he. If you haven’t heard about the next obstacle he faces; it's a Total hip replacement at the ripe young age of 31. This is due to side effects of medications he was on for Ulcerative Colitis. Yet, when I call him and ask how his day is going he’ll tell me “Oh busy, so and so called in sick, but I’m fine.” I say “Really, do they have a broken hip?” He is the strongest person I know both physically and mentally. What he has been though in his life inspires me every day to just keep on going. To push through to the end. Mark, I love you with every fiber in my body. I am thankful that you are you. There is no one I would rather spend forever with. I can’t wait for my leave when I get to see you and hold you in June and celebrate our 2nd Wedding Anniversary and our 6th year together as a couple. I also can’t wait for the 325 days from today to go by. When I will officially be off orders and back home to you for good.
Thank you to all of you who have loved and supported me so far on this deployment. I have felt all of your thoughts and prayers. I love you all and miss you very much. I am so thankful and blessed to a member of your family. I truly wish I could be there and I am so thankful for all you in my life. Take care and have a great Thanksgiving meal. Give everyone a hug and a kiss for me.
Love you all, The Misses