The DetailsMike will be deploying to Ramstein AFB in Germany at the end of next month. According to his last email, he has to report to base on May 27th, but he has not received his official itinerary yet. What we do know is that his orders are for 179 days, which is about 6 months.
He has been in the Air Force for 6 years, and his current rank is Captain. His job in the military is as a critical care nurse, so during deployment, he will be taking care of the injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Once they are stable for transport, they either go back to war, or are transported to Washington, D.C.
How We Met
I've been friends with Mike's sister Lauren for a few years, from working together at MetLife. One Friday morning, 4 of us decided to have a girls' night out, and get some drinks at Nylo.
An hour before we left, Mike called Lauren, and wanted to meet up with her at the very spot where we planned our girls' night. When she asked us if he could tag along, we said yes.
Once inside, Mike and I were watching the Celtics game that was on, and ended up talking all night. With Lauren's permission, he friended me on Facebook the next day, and our first date was the following Thursday- June 4, 2009.
Staying Busy
As far as staying busy during deployment, I'm not concerned at all. Between my two jobs, I work 6 days a week, plus I'm a part-time student. I moved into Mike's house in December, and while I did live on my own for 3 years before we met, I had a very small apartment. Taking care of a house with a decent-sized yard is more than enough to keep me occupied. He is concerned about how I will do, which is valid- I will have my good nights and my bad nights.
We Are Family
I'm very lucky to have a close relationship with Mike's family, as well as my own. I feel comforted knowing I can call any one of his relatives, or mine, and get help or company whenever I need it. From Day 1, Mike's family has treated me as one of their own, and I am grateful beyond words for it.
The Road Ahead
At this point in our relationship, Mike and I are rock-solid. Yes, he will be gone for 6 months, but it's not like we met a few weeks ago. I truly feel like he is the one I am going to spend the rest of my life with, so in the grand scheme of things, 6 months isn't a long time. It will be difficult at times . . . I think people would be concerned if I seemed fine every day! I tell Mike every day how much I love him, but standing by him during deployment gives me the chance to really show him how commited I am to him. Without a doubt, this will be the toughest challenge for us as a couple.
Terrific Technology
Between phone calls, email, and Skype, I will get to communicate with Mike almost every day. During his time off, he will get to explore Germany and surrounding countries, so he also plans on posting his adventures on Facebook. Thank goodness for technology!
