Dear Deployment Gnome

Dear Deployment Gnome,

A number of months back, you moved in and brought all your mischief and problems with you. At first we struggled and fought and you wore me out—it was nothing but an uphill battle. Then when life continued, you continued to pop up and see how many different bumps you could throw in the road.

Now that it’s about time for you to move out, I wanted to leave you with some parting words.

Thank you for the challenges.

Thank you for the leaking transmission, the turn signal that stopped working, and the four tires that all decided to go low at one time when it was way below freezing.

Thank you for the times the children weren’t feeling well and we shared that extra little time snuggling together.

Thank you for jury duty and how it gave both my boys a chance to play with their friends but brought a chance for my deployment buddy and I to also grow a little closer.

Thank you for the dozen and a half light bulbs that seemed to all burn out at one time. Including the one on the front porch that added a few extra grams of protein when I made the mistake of unscrewing the globe while looking up.

Thank you for the ants that decided to join our home; thankfully, they were short lived.

Thank you for the toilets that clogged multiple times and helped me hone my plumbing skills.

Each challenge you brought meant a new chance to grow, a new skill acquired. It also meant opportunities to meet new people, and on many evenings, a good reason to enjoy some ice cream.

The reality of it is that no matter how many times you show up during a separation, each time we overcome. There’s a reason that those spouses like myself are independent. You are as reliable as the military orders—when they show up, so do you.

As with most military sendoffs, I know this isn’t a forever goodbye but rather a farewell until the next time. While you’re away, I imagine the plans you’ll be making for the next separation, something “new and fun” or especially challenging.

While I dread your next arrival, I leave you with an open invitation: When the time comes, we’ll be here. We’ll be ready for the mischief and trouble you’ll cause and also for the strength we will gain from it.

Now, please be packed and gone before we get back home with our service member!

Until next time,

Mindy