A Strange Season of See Ya Laters

My family would have PCS’d this summer if we were on our normal schedule. But what is “normal” this year anyway? The coronavirus swept over our world, leaving us with uncertainty and quickly grasping for a new normal. Plans we have all had over the past several months have been unraveled. We have postponed, rescheduled, all out cancelled, and been ever flexible with our activities, events, vacations, and PCS orders. A military life forces us to be flexible and deal with last minute changes somewhat gracefully. But this year?

This year…well, it is a whole new drill for us all.

My family typically moves every two years (or less!). We have been at our current installation for just over that time, but upon receiving this assignment, we knew it would be a three-year stay. My husband and I keep speculating about what chaos we would be going through if we truly had moved this year. We had several military friends in remarkably interesting situations because COVID-19 affected their progression of a typical PCS.

Maybe you found yourself in a similar situation: you had orders to report to your new duty station in June, but due to the Army’s travel restrictions, only specific cases PCSing in or out at that time, your report date was postponed.

Perhaps the lease on your residence was almost up, but you were not yet allowed to travel, and you were trying to figure out a temporary living situation.

You were possibly stuck OCONUS and could not yet move back to the states.

It’s likely officials explained to you the need for coronavirus testing and mandatory quarantine expectations after you were finally allowed to fly.

Maybe you were separated from your spouse because of a deployment, and you were counting down those days to reunite, only to be given a new reunion date, and yet another new date four months later than that original date.

Perchance, after a reunion with your spouse, you were going to take extended leave and enjoy some family time before PCS’ing, but the delays stole that precious time away from you.

Maybe you were dragging unwilling kids in their masks to medical examinations, to update passport photos, to schedule movers, or to submit an exception to policy to a higher chain of command than usual, still praying it would be approved and you would be able to fly out the following week as planned.

You might have been exhausted, discouraged, and utterly overwhelmed. We all know what a “normal” PCS is like—an experience filled with millions of ups and downs and last-minute changes and a fight to stay sane to the end.

What about this year?

This year…well, it was a strange season of “see ya laters.”

When all that crazy paperwork finally went through and all the logistics fell into place, we still didn’t get the same closure that we always expect.

Maybe you couldn’t make that last visit to your beloved local coffee shop because it was still closed.

Perhaps you were unable to do one last walk-through of your favorite museum or the zoo because they, too, remained closed.

You possibly could not give a hug to your elderly friends because their assisted living facilities were still not allowing visitors.

Maybe you could not even attend your church because services were still held on Zoom.

And seriously, what to do about the loads of “nice junk” you always clear out and donate to Goodwill or the homeless shelter, but they could not yet accept donations?

This year…well, it was a very strange season of “see ya laters.”

This year, you were not only fighting to stay sane to the end, you were fighting even harder to make the “see ya laters” intentional and just as special. So, you strapped on that mask. You kept your distance. You armed yourself with that giant bottle of hand sanitizer. And you still said “see ya later,” only with a little pizazz.

You messaged the coffee shop to send your favorite bag of beans once you were settled, you did a virtual tour of the museum or zoo, you drove to the assisted living facility and blew kisses to your friends through the window, you called your church family and thanked them for their love and support to you, and the “nice junk?” Hmmm…what to do about that junk?!

And for those final, truly special “see ya laters,” maybe, for some, the best you could do was to have lunch together outdoors at individual picnic tables and you waved and blew kisses afterwards. Yes, it was a strange season of “see ya laters” for sure.

As my family sat back this year, not having to personally endure the challenges of a COVID PCS, we were fully empathizing with those who were. We were also left to wonder what this could mean for us next year. This situation is forcing us all to stop and contemplate on what makes these moments extraordinary.

Honestly, I’ve been slightly enjoying this little hiatus from life. This unanticipated break to spend more quality time with my family and friends (at a distance!) has been somewhat welcoming. It truly is healthy to catch a breath, tear away from the once hectic schedules, and spend extra time rediscovering the things that really matter. And our military family are also one of those things that really matter. We are walking beside each other on this fascinating journey; and we get it.

In the military, we say “see ya later” because as we circle around to different duty stations, we again find ourselves in company of the same military friends.

Once more, before we know it, those same friends will be saying, “Hello, again!”

So, what will our “hello agains” look like this season?

Will we still be seeing the world in a completely new way?

Maybe our world can be better, more meaningful?

How are you engaging your military friends, or your non-military neighbors who are unsure how they should engage you?

I, for one, am hopeful I can keep loving on those around me a little harder for a little longer.

So, what new journeys await? Ah, the adventuresome life of a military family. If we take those moments to pause and reflect, life can become whatever we want to make of it.

We get to be the ones to decide!

For Army resources regarding the Coronavirus, click here.

If you enjoyed this, you may like How to Maintain Your Mental Health During COVID-19 and Welcomed Ruckus.