Well...here we are, my hubs and I once again apart. This is the big suck, the one right before the major suck. Ok, guess I need to clarify for those of you not familiar with my personal military lingo. Suck for me is any time the hubs and I are apart for military training of ANY type. There are small sucks, meaning a week in the field for some little training, or maybe a 15k hike or a 30k hike that can take maybe 2 days. Those are not too bad but none the less defined as "The
Suck". Then we have what I call the "Big Suck". These are field ops taking anywhere from 3-6 weeks and are usually closer in nature to what we will refer to now as "The Major Suck" and that my friends is a combat deployment.
So I have been doing this awhile, small sucks, big sucks and major sucks. You'd really think by now I would be used to them or better yet more accepting when they start...that is not true. Of course I can only speak on my own experiences. I have yet to figure out how not to really hate it when dealing with the sucks. One of my friends who's husband is currently in the big suck with me said it was because we are living so close to where the big suck is going down. I don't agree. I think I felt pretty much the same when I was on the other coast of the big suck. Maybe there is a small piece of that logic that I agree with, knowing possibly as the helicopters fly over head my hubs is on one being transported to some small "Faux Fob" maybe 4 miles from where I sit..but again..not sure.
So ladies, how do you deal with the 3 sucks? Don't get me wrong, I am accepting of each one and go about my life with some minor melt downs along the way but could I be the only one that possibly feels that the more suck we deal with does not equate to easier? How many of you are encountering you first major suck soon? Anyway would love to hear from you on this....signing off from the big suck...
8 comments:
You're right.. time apart sucks no matter how long it is or what is involved. The Major suck, time apart AND the dangerous part of combat just adds so much stress and worry.
I don't think it gets easier at all. I always say just keep busy and set mini goals. I tried to plan one big thing per month to look forward to. I also tried to NEVER look at the whole year stretched out ahead of me.. just one day at a time.
Good luck, my thoughts are with you.
Paula thanks..I think I have tried just about every approach to minimize the agony and some work better then others..the mini goals is a good one. My son being home over the summer will of course be a big bright spot in an otherwise dreary time. I will be happy when the days of back, to back to back to back deployments are behind us..I miss the good ole days!
you're right, it's all sucky. and it never gets easier. we've been through so many sucks, I really couldn't count if I tried but we are in the tail end of the most recent major suck and it is STILL not easy. I think the small and big sucks can be hard because it just reminds me of the looming major suck they are in preparation of.
Well I hope your Big Suck comes to an end soon..we are just getting ready and I dread it..ugh. I would like to say it will be great when combat tours are over but as Marines we will still have all 3 sucks in our future..sans Combat..but the stress of combat alone being removed I can deal with and the tempo slowing down just a bit would be nice.
I don't believe any part of the suck is easier than another! It's all seperation time! The MAJOR suck is the wrost because there are so many unknowns...
Big Hug to you! We have your back out here in blogland!
Thanks Renee I will depend on you all soon..well I already do!
I think everyone has summed up the "SUCK". What I hate is that the more "experienced" you are at "embracing the suck" the more people judge you.
What people fail to realize is that no matter how many times you've been through it or even how well it appears that you handle it, it SUCKS. Every goodbye is hard because you're saying goodbye to a piece of you. It doesn't matter if you have been doing this for decades or if this is the first "SUCK" for you, the void is still the same.
We are fortunate in this unit that no MAJOR SUCK is on the horizon but the small and big sucks still..well...suck!
(((((HUGS))))
As you know soon I'll start embarking on my "major suck" but i have to say that for now i'm lucky. just next week DH is going on his "big suck" and to be honest, i think i'll handle it just fine. i know, i know, how can i say this? well, i think i'll do fine because i know its not the major one and because i'll be working. i'll probably get sad but nothing close to what is expected of me when the major sucks occurs. i know when he leaves it will be a week of major moping, crying and saddness but like everyone else, i get over it. i have done it but this time i'll be worried. i'm just glad that i'm not alone and that i can depend on people like you to move forward. thank you :)
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