He's Home!

Two days early and he shows up on my door, ringing the doorbell like a would be suitor. I love it when he does that.

I get to walk up to the door and see this soldier standing there smiling at me. It makes me feel like I was 19 years old again leaning out my apartment window to smile at the man I hadn't spoken to for two weeks.

It makes me think of being five months pregnant with our first child and him showing up at home, hopping the fence and coming in the back door, which scared me enough to scream for my brother-in-law (and then roommate). Then realizing who it was I jump up and run across the room only to have him hold me back in wonder at how much my belly had changed in those two weeks.


Me tying white ribbons on his duffel bags so that he could identify them among the masses.

Him driving his motorcycle through the night (and day) from Missouri to Phoenix (stopping only once) to see me before he was deployed to Iraq.

Me wearing his second best pair of dog tags as if they were a talisman against danger.

Me standing there waiting at an airport in Alaska, watching every person who came out of the terminal. Then seeing like an angel his uniform stark against the crowd.

Two year old Vicbowin in her prettiest red dress (that I have never given away) and a red ribbon in her hair, smiling shyly at her father whom she hadn't seen for a year. Albowin clinging to me and glaring fire in Ralexwin's direction, daring him to try anything fishy.


Every time he comes home is like a rush of memories tumbling over one another and making me feel young and beautiful and in love.

I love this man! I love him in his uniform! And I love it when he comes home.