Departure

As I sit here waiting to board my flight, I'm wondering what I did to be blessed with such a great family. Coming home makes me wonder why I don't do it more often. These past few days have been the most difficult days I have ever experienced, but they've also been filled with joy and love. When I married Kyle I was well aware of what I was promising, which included following him wherever the military may lead him. I would make the same promise again tomorrow, but I'd do it with a heavier heart. Seems like the Air Force charged me a non-refundable experience this time, I missed my chance to say goodbye. Unfortunately, even if I would have made it home earlier, the situation at hand would still be the same. I swear, I would have rather cut my own ears off a million times over than to see my dad struggle through this situation.

I wasn't expecting it, but it also didn't surprise me when my parents basically bent over backward to make sure that Brittney and I were well taken care of during our short stay in Michigan. I'm going home with new clothes and shoes, and cash to spare. It's no surprise that I had to check a bag this time around. I regret not being able to be at the funeral with my family today, and I'll probably have regret for quite some time. "We'll see you soon enough," I'm sure that's what Grandpa would say. I remember every Sunday morning, Grandpa and Grandma would come over after 8:30 mass, but before 10:30 mass. I was always sleeping whenever they got there, I'd be trying to catch as much sleep as possible. I'd tell myself I only needed 15 minutes to get ready in the morning, even though that really wasn't the case. I would come walking up those stairs at 9:50, looking like I'd been out all night. Grandpa would just say "Well hello Jessie!" They were usually sitting at the dining room table with my parents drinking coffee, black coffee. Mom would always have something on the table, weather it was cookies, cake, or whatever the neighbor had brought over the night before. Grandma would be fighting with herself, did she want a cookie, or didn't she want a cookie? Just have a cookie Gram.

I don't want to leave Michigan. I don't want to leave my mom and I don't want to leave my dad. I don't want to leave Grandma and I don't want to leave Maggie. In the end though, I belong with my husband. My husband, the one who gets lonely when I'm not there at night, and the one who cannot cook for himself. The same one who was so proud that he loaded and unloaded the dishwasher the other day. The one who wanted to know if the taco meat in the fridge was still good (I told him 'yes' by the way... not for sure if that was the right answer). I will do my best not to stay so long this time around, I don't think I could stand it.

I will end this with answering my dad's concern for "his own children". There was never a question, you are a great father.

Duane Joseph Henige 01/21/35 - 11/4/09

A Tribute

to be continued...