The Beginning of Not The Same
July 4, 2009|
I realized as I was sitting in a completely empty house on July 4th with no working knowledge of our gas grill that, perhaps, I should just admit to myself that this is our first of "just not the same" days that we will meet head on this year.
My next thought? I knew a place I could go where I would not be the only one doing this today.
Not that I'm saying that every SpouseBuzz reader with a deployed spouse isn't out enjoying the holiday weekend with family and friends, but I can't be the ONLY person trying to hit a new high score of Facebook's Bejeweled Blitz and making some kind of lunch that doesn't look anything like the fantastic cookout spread he/she made last year.
Our local area is in line for some thunderstorms this afternoon, so the cookout I'd planned to attend has been canceled. Fireworks are questionable if rain comes, but we have a few hours to figure all that out. My oldest is visiting her grandparents. My youngest is watching a movie at the neighbor girl's house. The dogs are napping.
I'm doing laundry and watching the Food Network.
Seems like a normal Saturday, but I know it isn't.
I'm painfully aware today of the long line of families in our nation's history who have spent not only the nation's birthday, but also their own birthdays, without their service person at home to help them celebrate.
On the one hand, that doesn't seem like it's all it's cracked up to be. On the other hand, it's an earned distinction that my family can remember and be proud of long after memories of firecrackers or cookouts fade.
If you're 'home alone' today (even if your house is full), thank you for your service. It's a pleasure working with you.
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that is wonderfully put, it is a great feeling "to be alone on this 4th of July" but also a very lonely one
Posted by: Danyiel | 07/04/2009 at 13:57
I am "home alone" today, with two kids...
we are going to have our own 4th celebration...we talked to daddy via skype today, we are going to get take out, and my oldest will watch the fireworks on tv...and look forward to the next 4th, when it wont be an "alone on this 4th of July".
Posted by: lana | 07/04/2009 at 16:01
I grok you here...this 4th just doesn't feel normal to me. The husband and I are both kinda blah, knowing that he deploys in a week-ish...
Posted by: Sarah | 07/04/2009 at 16:24
I agree with Sarah, just kinda "blah" today - hubby is working the afternoon/night shift .. so it's just me and the dog, watching animal planet. but all the same, "happy 4th of july"..
Posted by: aggie af wife | 07/04/2009 at 17:32
I'm right there with ya! All I kept thinking today how we spent together last year so I've been trying to keep busy today. I'm aiming for the high score on the bookworm look alike on facebook. hehe ..
I was thinking how amazing it is to be a military spouse during this time, with or without the spouse at home. It's nice to know there are others on this boat, makes it a little less lonely :)
Posted by: Penny | 07/04/2009 at 18:15
I hear ya! the hubby is deployed and I got out of town to visit friends, but everything reminds me of him. :-(
Posted by: flycat | 07/04/2009 at 20:28
Hubby is home this year but he is at his family's while I sit int he hospital with my Mom. It is a weird day. The same but not the same.
Posted by: Reasa | 07/04/2009 at 22:57
Alone...not the same here either!!! The 4th just happens to be my hubby's b-day too....this of course only adds to the missing!
Posted by: nessluvsjess | 07/05/2009 at 02:34
It seems more normal than not for Stretch and I to be apart on the 4th. I'm not sure I'd know what to do with him if we were actually together all day for the 4th of July. He's not deployed right now but we spent the day in different states (literally, not just states of mind).
Posted by: Marine Wife | 07/05/2009 at 16:41
you're definatly not alone. i took our 4 kids to the park to watch the fireworks (where we went last year when my husband was home.) He got deployed in february & left to afghanistan a few days before the 4th of july so it had been a few days since i had heard from him, so i was already sad. being at the park where we had been the year before flooded my heart w/memories. im very much looking forward to next year when he is home again. as i was sitting there missing him i knew this was one of many holidays i'd be dealing w/not having him home :(
Posted by: crystal estrada | 07/05/2009 at 20:50
How do I post my own blog?
Posted by: Stacey | 07/05/2009 at 23:06
I was also 'alone' this fourth of July with my 3 kids. It was hard, I'm not looking forward to the many hard holidays ahead, when we'll be 'alone'
Posted by: Jewels | 07/06/2009 at 00:40
Hello Everyone,
Your comments highlight the experiences our production company is in need of for a TV promo for real army wives.
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All the best,
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Posted by: lgray | 07/06/2009 at 09:01
My 4th of July was miserable! I was feeling like a complete loser because DH is overseas and there I sat watching TV wondering what to do with myself. I think I cried about 4 times that day.
I ended up going to the fireworks alone (thought I was going with a friend but that didn't work out). I took Flat Hubby with me, but it just wasn't the same with no one to ohh and ahhh with that could actually talk!
Glad to know I wasn't really "alone" on the 4th with all my feelings :)
Posted by: Beth | 07/06/2009 at 14:30
Hey GW....
My 4th was very nice, complete with my new husband and my family. Even the rain didn't ruin things even though it did mess up fireworks plans.
But I know that my experience would have been completely different without my DH. We're apart more often than we're together because he works at Ft. Knox, 2 1/2 hrs away from home. We have been together for the past 17 days, almost non-stop, and it's been wonderful. He left for Knox this morning, leaving me alone with the kids until Sunday night. When he left, I told him that I couldn't even imagine how hard it would be to say good-bye for a year. Someday, I may have to... but I know where to go for support.
Posted by: AFSister | 07/07/2009 at 09:59
I too spent the fourth alone. My husband hasn't been deployed yet, he is in the ROTC. But for the last two years he has been out of state in training camps and I've spent the fourth alone. It was unbelievably miserable, and it was painful to see all of the couples together enjoying fireworks and going to parades. I know that my husband being in Ft. Louis, WA is not anywhere near as hard as it is for those with deployed spouses, but it was still depressing and lonely to spend the holiday with out him. I am sorry for everyone who's spouse is deployed, my prayers are with you. I am not looking forward to the day that my husband will be.
Posted by: Amanda | 07/10/2009 at 23:34