Over the last few months you have all read about the preparations and planning of our upcoming move. While the logistics of it have been relatively easy one thing that has not been easy are the emotions of it. When you move as much as we do you experience an array of emotions. There is the initial excitement of moving to a new place (or for us a place that we called home for 4 years), the stress of finding a place to live, and then the sadness of saying goodbye to the people and place you've called home for whatever length of time.
For us the worst time period is after everything is packed up and right before leaving. Since last week, Kyle and I both have been in this weird state of emotional limbo. For me, saying goodbye to my amazing tribe of friends is going to be really difficult. It's also the first place that E had friends, her little group is the best. On one hand, I am really sad to leave. On the other, I'm ready to just rip the band-aid off and go. E and I are also leaving 2 1/2 weeks before Kyle, so there is that added stress. I've been through deployments but this is the longest E will have gone without him (I know that she will experience deployments/TDYs but this is new for her).
I have tried so hard to not disconnect myself from my friends here but I feel like that is my safety mechanism and my way of dealing with leaving. It's hard, because I know that come next week I will be an emotional wreck. I am doing my best to make the most of the time that I have left here, but part of me wishes it was the 27th already. It is such a weird emotional space to be in. I am thankful that most of my friends understand this and often times feel the same way so they don't take it personal.
I'm fairly certain that after I leave next week, I will feel better. Also, I will remind myself that I will still stay in contact with all of my friends from here and that it's possible that we will be stationed together again in the future. Or even get together with our families for a fun vacation. I've even discussed coming back next year for a few fun events.
It's going to be hard to say goodbye but I'm ready. I'm ready to move forward and embark on this new adventure.
