Thirteen days...

August 4, 2010 by thinkhappy

Thirteen days. You can do a lot in thirteen days. You can lose two or three pounds, you can get pregnant, you can drive through more states than I can think of. You can run miles upon miles. Thirteen days can hold so many promises, so many secrets, so much love. Thirteen days can seem to drag on forever--or pass by so quickly that you barely felt the hours fade into one and other. Our estimate of when my husband will return from Iraq is thirteen days. Thirteen days seems like it's right around the corner. When I think back to the day in February when my husband boarded the airplane to leave for Iraq, I would have given anything to know he was returning in thirteen days. So why, then, does thirteen days feel like a lifetime?

In thirteen days (we hope) he'll be landing at the airport. In thirteen days I'll plow through security and into his arms. In thirteen days I'll feel his rough cheek against my face, his arms around my body, his breath in my ear. In thirteen days I'll feel his whisper, smell his scent, and wish I could never leave his side. Thirteen days seems so far away.

We are blessed. He's coming home. As you read this blog about the dreaded thirteen days, please let your thoughts sway to those whose loved ones will not be returning home...ever. Think of those that we've lost to this dreaded war. Let those that miss their mother, father, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, friend, lover, feel your thoughts.

Remember...thirteen days may seem like a lifetime...thirteen days is doable. To those who have lost someone in the war, I will be thinking of you long after these thirteen days are over.

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