When my husband joined the Army, I never knew I would have a love/hate relationship with my telephone. During his training, I hated waiting for it to ring, never knowing if it actually would or not. I wanted to throw it across the room when I missed the first few times he was able to call me. But on the rare occasions when I was able to hear his voice on the other end of the line, it would absolutely make my day. I remember thinking after he graduated that at least I wouldn't have to be a slave to my phone any more.
Was I ever wrong about that. Since he's been with his unit, the love/hate relationship continues. Whenever he deploys, I find myself again having to wait anxiously while I will the phone to ring. And it is instant disappointment when I see a phone number that doesn't belong to him. I loathe having to take my cell phone with me everywhere I go, including to the shower. I'm always so happy when he's home because I no longer have to worry about sitting at the very back of the church so I can slip out the door if he calls. Or having to sit in the front of the theater with my phone in my lap so just in case it does ring, I will see it light up.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing about phones and the Army is that it seems like I'm no longer allowed to make outgoing calls. He's in charge of the communication. I can only sit and wait for it to ring, never knowing if it actually will. If I want to tell him something, I have to make notes and be sure I have them with me (along with the phone) if and when he does call. Since obviously its impossible for me to just pick up the phone to call him.
Then the phone call comes and you get to deal with the *pleasure* of the call being dropped mid-sentence or it sounding like he's in the middle of a category 5 hurricane. Oh and don't forget the delays. It's always fun when you're talking over each other because of that. But regardless, when I answer the phone and hear "hey, baby", a smile creeps on my face and I'm again in love with my phone. Now if I can just figure out a way for entire deployments to go by as fast as phone calls do, I'll be set when the next one rolls around.
No matter what though, I always look forward to the day that I can turn it off, leave it at home and take a shower without my little "friend". That is true freedom!
I could not agree more Stacey...I am so glad Brian graduates next Friday so my love/hate relationship will end until a deployment!
<3 M
Posted by: Morgan | October 04, 2006 at 12:36 PM
You managed to put a smile on my face on a day that I didn't think that would be possible! This is absolutly true (and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that brings the phone in the bathroom with them!)
Posted by: Lea | October 06, 2006 at 02:36 PM
You hit it on the head with this blog, Stacey. When my husband was in training, the phone ruled my life and I hated it, but that was the way it had to be if I ever wanted to talk to him. Fortunatly, it isn't ruling my life at the moment, but soon...
Posted by: Kasey | October 07, 2006 at 02:21 PM
OH MY if this doesn't hit the nail on the head. When DH was in training I did everything with BOTH phones.... same for deployment! Man am I thankful to not have to turn around and go back home if I forget the cell phone for the time being!
Posted by: V | October 10, 2006 at 01:38 PM
I hate that I have such a relationship with my phone. My fiance has another 2 weeks until I can say goodbye to my phone until a deployment. I'm also glad that I am not the only one that has the phone in the bathroom with them. :]
Posted by: Lauren | November 22, 2007 at 08:15 PM