Whata trip

Today started out as a normal day, I woke up, took a shower, got ready and spent some time with Rylan… It gradually got more weird. I packed my suitcase, with only my stuff alone. It made it much lighter. I packed a small travel bag for Rylan, not his normal huge diaper bag with tons of snacks, bottles and other misc items. We got in the car and I started thinking. We were on our way to Phoenix to drop me off. Me all by myself without my little man. My little shadow that I take everywhere, that cries when I leave the room. I tried not to think too hard about it, because I didn’t want to upset myself. We played “I spy” while we drove down the highway.

As we pulled up to my terminal, Nicole unloaded my giant suitcase with hardly anything in it as I unbuckled Rylan from his carseat. I had to get him out to get my fix of hugs and kisses before I had to leave him behind. As I was holding him I started crying. I trying not to make it too obvious but Nicole noticed and hugged me and I thought to myself that this is probably going to be the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do. I didn’t want to let go, knowing this is going to be my longest trip away from my little guy. With deployment time and travel time together, it’ll add up to approx 7 months. I tried to get myself together because I didn’t want to be walking through the airport and people looking and me like I’m crazy with makeup running down my face. Nicole took a few pictures of Rylan and myself and It was time to put him back in his seat. As soon as I reached to put him in the car he immediately started crying. He knew. He had to. Tears streaming down his face made it harder for me to say goodbye. It’s not forever, but it’s sure going to feel like it. Not only have I been away from Chris for 7 months, now Rylan. My two biggest loves are about to be thousands of miles and time zones away. I gather myself and my thoughts and waved to Rylan through the window and was off. Time to go find my terminal.

This airport is definitely larger than the one in Valdosta that I’m used to. The VLD airport has all of one terminal, it makes things easier. Throughout my adventure to find my way in the airport I kept thinking about my little partner in crime. I should be frantically rushing to go through security with all of his things and mine, the airport personnel normally checking the water for his bottles, the removing of not just mine, but his little flip flops as well. Hustling so I don’t annoy the other people trying to go through. It just seemed too easy without him. I didn’t like it. Looking at my boarding pass, there was nothing that said “infant in arms”. I know this sounds dramatic, but this is how I felt. I was leaving my one and only baby for months and months while he stays back and changes so much. It’s a horrible feeling knowing I’m going to miss so much, he’ll be a year old in a little less than two months. I’m going to miss his first haircut, his first steps. Those two other teeth that are about to come in. It feels like so much. Now I know just a little of how Chris felt. I’m sure he felt worse knowing he was going to miss so much more.

As I finally made it through security and found my terminal I stopped for a magazine and a book to keep my mind occupied on this almost 4 hour flight. Crying on the plane is the lastthing I wanted. I walked passed a bar and decided to drop in. I ordered myself a nice “Long Island Iced Tea” and boy was it good. After that I went to my gate and waited patiently to board, trying not to be sad.

Finally my zone was called to board and I headed to my seat. Three whole rows from the back, lucky me. There’s not even any t.v.’s on this plane, wtf… but that doesn’t really matter. I read my magazine from front to back within probably the first hour. As I was reading it the stewards(ests) or whatever they’re called, they were selling food. I didn’t plan on getting anything because it’s normally way over priced, and I wasn’t really feeling up to eating. So the steward?? Stops at me and asks what I would like because a lady in the front offered to buy me something of my choice. I was shocked really, so I got the fruit and cheese plate. I told him to thank her, but I didn’t know who she was. I hadn’t even made conversation with anyone, who was she? He tried to point her out, but I couldn’t see and he asked if I was military. I guess the backpack gave it away because my hot pink shirt sure didn’t. haha It was a nice feeling, that’s never happened to me. I’m glad to know there are still people out there who don’t take us for granted and still appreciate us and the things that we do. That lady made my crappy day turn a little more brighter, and she didn’t even know it. She didn’t know my story, all she saw was the ABU backpack with my last name on the back. She didn’t know I just dropped off my 10 month old son for the next seven months to go “fight for her freedom”. I know I’m not going to as dangerous as a place as some, but it doesn’t make leaving my son any easier.

I’m thankful for people like her, hopefully I’ll get to see her and thank her, I only got her description. If not, the lady on flight 612 from PHX to ATL with the reddish hair and light blue shirt on who bought me lunch should feel good about herself. She’s obviously a caring person.

Anyway, so here I am, on my plane, I was told we have about 40 more minutes? I hope they’re right. I’m tired of sitting still. I can only imagine how long the flight overseas will be. I had a short nap, and I read about 4 pages of my new Nicholas Sparks book, lol I was took tired to read anymore. Now that I got my power nap in I should be set. I have some packing to do tomorrow morning, as the movers are coming after lunch.

I have so little time left, and so much to accomplish but that is why I took Rylan to AZ when I did. I have packing and moving and more outprocessing to do. I’m glad I stayed in AZ for a week. I got to see how the Basham household works and I like it. Jason, Nicole and all 5 girls are great. They’re very welcoming, even little Maddie who is the youngest baby. She rubs Rylan’s back and is constantly offering him his bottle. The other girls are great too, a little wild but I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. They’re fun and sweet and Rylan is going to have a wonderful time with them. I see it already. I cannot wait to see the pics no matter how sad they make me.I’m just trying to think of this as Rylan’s little summer vacation. He’ll have his birthday party and be chasing those girls around in no time. He’s already trying to stand and let go, until he gets excited and falls to his butt. He’ll get it though, and I can’t wait.He’s going to be so different when I come back. I’m just glad he’s a baby so he won’t really remember.

Even though I know he won’t, I’m still scared he’s going to forget about me and not know who I am. That fear is probably going to be there throughout my whole deployment. I’m sure Chris knows what I’m talking about. Well I didn’t mean for this post to be so emo, but oh well, if you didn’t like it you wouldn’t still be reading. :) Time to put this away before they cut me off to put up all electronics. You know how it is on those dang planes.