Hello there, 75%, where did you come from?

Well, we've made it over the hump.

 

We're officially on the downward slope towards homecoming! 

I think I speak for both Derek and I when I say that we're ready for this deployment to be over with... It's been quite a journey - tonight I spent about an hour going through old posts and I'm amazed at how much has changed. More than that, I'm stunned at how fast time has gone!

Recently, Derek and I have been talking more and more about his return date/homecoming; talking about how close it is in comparison to how far away it seemed in September. It brings me strength knowing that he's as excited about it as I am. Someone told me that the last few months of deployment are harder than the first few months... And it's totally true. I think, in the beginning, it's hard because you're facing month and months of aloneness. But the end? In the end you're anxious and tired and excited. You've gone through all the motions, waited all these months, and still, you're not done yet.

But hearing his excitement invigorates me. He sounds so happy, knowing that this period of our life is almost at an end. We've almost made it and we’re on our way to the finish line.  We're literally weeks away from being in each other's arms again; our moment is coming, and it’s coming soon. We’re both finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and that makes me want to dance. 

Rereading my old entries tonight made me feel strangely nostalgic. I mean, it feels like just yesterday that he left, though he's been gone almost six and a half months. I even remember where I was and what I was thinking while I was writing them - sadness, loneliness, frustration, love. Those feelings haven't gone away, but their severity has diminished and now I'm consumed with anticipation and excitement. Each night I repeat the same thing, "Only a little while longer, then he will be home." It seems surreal that the date is literally weeks away from today... WEEKS, I TELL YOU. NOT MONTHS. Try to imagine how excited that makes me feel.

I can't wait. Now, when I see that "remaining" percentage on my DOM (Donut of Misery) I'm going to be happy because each day it will get smaller and smaller. Each day is one day closer to that 1% marker - which means every day I'll be one day closer to having him home with me.