I'm back! Bear with the deployment talk for one more post - I like to post all these since his family is all out on the West Coast and they aren't able to be here to send him off. The following photos took place over the course of two days. The first set is from the night he had to report onboard the ship, and the second set is the actual departure day. I am lucky that I live at the beach so it's easy for me to watch them until they disappear into the horizon, that is, if I was crazy enough to sit there that long. Okay, grab your Kleenex and join our family on the bye-bye express. Last depressing post, I promise! Remember, "It's Not Just a Job, It's an Adventure" (insert sarcasm here!)
Daddy & Marley
Daddy & Sprocket
No words necessary for these:
Morning - on my walk out to my "secret spot" I can watch the ship leave the Chesapeake Bay and head into open ocean.
"Secret Spot"
These photos were taken in the morning, from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is to the left (west) and the Atlantic Ocean opens up to the right (east). Once they clear the viewfinder in this screen they open it up and boogie out of the Bay pretty quickly!
Watching & Waiting (that oiler is not the carrier!)... I call it "Knittin' on the dock o' the bay"!
I also feel slightly Top-Gunnish asking upon arrival at the beach "Anyone seen an aircraft carrier around here?"
There it is!
Rounding the point into open ocean, it was gone from sight within 15 minutes. When they decide to go faster, they don't mess around.
Hubby, I met a couple of tourists at the lighthouse from Ohio, Canada, Kentucky, and one Grandpa from Maine down to see his granddaugher off... they all said to wish you all safe travels and wanted to thank you & your crew. How nice! Said I would pass it on! Stay safe and we'll see you in 2011 sometime!
Love and Hugs from your very own homestead in the US of A! Maybe I'll try and mail you an heirloom tomato - hey it would be fun posting on the condition of it by the time it arrived into 120 degree heat after many days of transit, LOL!
You can post about deployment as much as you need to with no apologies needed. The pictures of Daddy with the boys made me tear up. I don't know how you do it. Hugs to all of you.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I think I'm going to cry. I think I love you....all of you (Erin, Daddy, kids and dogs).
ReplyDeleteBlessing to you all, dogs included. (Not so bad. I only had to stop and blow my nose once.)
ReplyDeleteI did all right until the end, seeing the ship from your "secret spot" made it all real. I am fortunate enough to not know what it is like to send a loved one off for longer than a week or two.
ReplyDeleteBlog about it all you like Erin, it helps on non-military families remember the sacrifices others make for our well being every day. (((hugs)))
You guys are funny! I haven't even cried yet - although that's normal for me, it hits me once I have some alone time, which so far, there hasn't been any! I am really looking forward to getting the kids in bed tonite and knitting and watching some lame Lifetime movie on TV. Funny you mention sacrifices, Kelly - it seems like I get so stressed and angry in the weeks before a deployment and it feels like the Navy owns my whole family (it does, I guess!) but then standing on the beach alone watching that carrier disappear from sight makes my heart swell with pride and honestly, I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything in that moment, I only feel proud of him and glad to be part of it all! But, yeah, ask me again in a month, LOL! FullFreezer, I am sending all my good thoughts and energy your way...
ReplyDeleteWow -- what a gift to give... to be able to stand there during your husband's send-off and be full of pride and well wishes. You're amazing. Now excuse me, I'm off to find a wash cloth and remove all the tear-streaked dirt from my face! (I just came in from the garden when I saw your post. Big mess. Me, not the garden.) Enjoy your night!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you thought knitting would never bring you any solace.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had half your strength and a full three quarters of the man's integrity.
Definitely something else to be crying over someone else's family (I say with the tears rolling off of my cheeks) My father-in-law just returned from Afghanistan and Iraq, so I have a VERY slight glimpse of what you must go through. My prayers are with your family, that crew, that ship! You've got to be one of the strongest women out there. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteLots and lots of fervent wishes for your hubby's safe journey, there and back again. Soon!
ReplyDeleteWow. To you, Sailor / Hubby, stay safe and know that many of us are doing what we can to support & bolster your wonderful wife while you're gone (even if we're doing it across the miles). :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your support! Megan, glad your family member is safe home again. Ribbit, I never would have thought that I would get as much enjoyment out of knitting as I do when I started, but now that I am no longer doing quick scarves, I find myself constantly saying, "knit faster"! I think that I picked the right craft to help my type A personality relax a bit in the evening!
ReplyDeleteOK...crying when visiting your blog seems to have become a tradition with me.
ReplyDeleteHugs and prayers being sent your way from up north. Bless our military families and all they do...seriously I cannot imagine. Kim