Tuesday Clark and I got up a little before 4am to get ready to drive. While it would not have been necessary to leave so early, we had an appointment for me to get my military ID made in Greensboro at 8am. The SGT didn't exactly like Clark calling him directly, so he gave us his first and earliest appointment. Monday night Clark could not sleep, and got out of bed around 2am or earlier to attempt to make himself sleepy. Poor Clark had an all-nighter. I think he maybe got a half an hour, if even that, of sleep before having to drive. When asked what was wrong, he kept just looking at me and saying, "Really?" Clearly I wasn't the only one worried about our upcoming time apart.
Tuesday we got to Greensboro and out of there by 8:30am or so. We made wonderful time getting everything done, but we were truly exhausted. We got to the hotel after running a bunch of errands around 8pm or so, and just spent the rest of the night watching TV channels that we don't normally have at home (and GLEE of course). Before we got to the hotel, we went to eat for Clark's "final dinner." He ordered lobster, and I ordered soup. When we first sat down there was a family sitting diagonally from us. A little girl, between the ages of 1 and 2, stared at me and then commenced to get her mother's attention by clapping and squealing. She then pointed to me, made sure her mother could see me, and said, "Barbie!" I think it was the biggest compliment I've ever gotten from a little girl.
Wednesday Clark had to go to get his official orders, and I stayed in the hotel relaxing since I had driving a head of me. We went to a wonderful lunch at Chile's and then had to run more errands to get Clark situated. We did find out that he's the highest ranked student in his class, and therefore is to be held accountable for those below him and he gets special privileges. I guess it's a good thing he waited to go. Had he been there in the fall, he just would have been one of the lowly students... not that there's anything wrong with that. This way, it just makes it easier for us with communication and whatnot.
Around 2:30 I headed out to get to Columbia. Already completely exhausted and held down by a headache, I was not looking forward to the drive. About an hour in I felt my eyes getting heavy, so I started praying. "God, I just need something refreshing. Something with caffeine," I stopped to think, "God, please let me find a Burger King. I could really use a Coke Icee." Driving in our lovely Jetta (aka Wendy) from Jacksonville, NC that had a high of 90 that day, to Columbia, SC, where it was around 90 as well, with no working AC was not pleasant. I just needed something that was going to keep me awake. Well, I got to a turn off, and found myself in the left lane when I was supposed to be in the right. Already devastated because of my aching head and droopy eyes, I was thinking I'd just pull in to the first parking lot to take a breather. Well, as I turned the corner, the first parking lot RIGHT THERE was attached to a Burger King. I was so relieved. I pulled through, got a Large Coke Icee, and pulled out where, amazingly enough, the first turn from the Burger King was to get back to where I was supposed to be. The rest of the drive wasn't as bad as that first hour and a half.
I arrived in time to get dinner and some good talking time with the family. This morning mom and dad took off to visit Ft. Benning, their next duty station, so it's just me and Molly until Saturday evening. We're already making sister plans to do things together, as well as work in preparation for Mother's Day. While I didn't sleep last night at all and still got up early, I'm thinking that will change eventually. I know last summer I would stay up late until my body could do nothing but sleep. Last summer I also had things going on, thanks to a job and a roommate. I suppose this summer still has potential.
I am so thankful that my family lives close now, because I don't think I could take another summer without Clark without them as well. Does that make sense? Though this time apart with Clark is going to be mild compared to last summer, that doesn't make it any less difficult. While military wives can get used to the fact that their husbands are always going to be going somewhere, I don't think they ever get used to sleeping alone or being without their significant other. Perhaps, with time, there is a routine to it-- but I don't think there's ever a period where you're used to it. At least, that's how I feel thus far.
I have three grades and am waiting on my fourth. I'm hoping that between now and the beginning of my last fall semester I can find time to enjoy for me and to get some things done that I kept putting off during the school year. We shall see how this all goes.
Until next time.
We've all got our junk, and my junk is you!
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