still the one who makes me laugh
January 25th, 2010
We got a postcard in the mail today from Troy, from Dubai. And by “we” I mean, clearly, our cats. Oh yes. Wanna see what he wrote on it?
Katy & Lily,
This place is a kitten’s dream! Three words for you:
World’s Largest Catbox
And this time of year, it is purfect!
xoxo,
Papa
If you’ve been following my Flickr photoset 180+ Photos for Troy, and you know that today was Day 179, you might be wondering if Troy is coming home tomorrow. But then you might notice that I added that plus sign to the name of the set.
Nope, Troy isn’t coming home tomorrow. I’m being vague about the actual date because of a little thing called national security. You’d be amazed (or maybe you wouldn’t, I don’t know) by the things Troy isn’t allowed to tell me, and the things I’m not supposed to publish here on this blog. You might notice I’ve never mentioned the name of Troy’s ship, for example. I don’t tell you where he’s been till after he’s been there. And I won’t mention the day he’s coming home till he’s here, probably. That’s just the way things are in a post-9/11 world. But don’t feel too bad for us; Troy will be home very soon. The rest of his shipmates won’t be home for a few more months, so we’re actually getting him back early. I’m counting that as a blessing and not getting upset about having to add a plus sign to the name of my photoset.
And very quickly after Troy gets home, we’re up and moving across the country again. We’ll have a few days to relax first. We hope to see most of our friends once more, we plan to take Annalie to Disneyland, we’ll eat at our favorite restaurants. The packers and movers will descend on our house like locusts on a field, quickly and efficiently wrapping and packing and boxing and taping, and taking most of our earthly possessions with them on a giant truck. We’ll follow a few days later: Troy, me, Annalie, my mom, both cats and the portable litterbox, driving across the country in our so-very-worth-it minivan, stopping once or twice to see family and friends along the way.
When we get there we’ll make ourselves comfortable in a hotel or base lodging before we start looking in the local classifieds and online for houses to rent and following up on the houses Troy’s already been researching from the ship. We’ll look at so many houses and neighborhoods in the span of a few days that they will all blur together. It’s all rather crazy but it’s also part of the routine of moving. I’ve been doing this every couple of years since I married Troy, nine days shy of my 21st birthday, and I kind of love it and look forward to it every time.
Of course I’ll miss it here. I’ll miss the sunny, warm winter days when we could go to the park in short sleeves and flip-flops. I’ll miss our fantastic house and the view from our deck and the palm trees and the bougainvillea. I’ll miss our town and our little mall with the pottery studio and all the fountains and the two-level Target. I’ll really miss all the good friends we have around here and I’m trying not to think about that just yet. I want to enjoy my last times with them, to hang out and talk and laugh with them, and not be dragged down by a heavy heart. So I’m putting those emotions off till after we’ve left. They are there, hovering around the edges, but I’m keeping them at bay for now.
And by the time I give those emotions free reign, Troy will be home. I’m pretty sure we’ll be so happy to have him with us again that we won’t spend much time being sad. Aside from being kind and thoughtful and just generally awesome, this is the guy who sends his cats postcards about how they’d like the desert because it’s the world’s biggest catbox, just because he knew it would make us laugh. He’s good at making people laugh, and he does it a lot. Even 3,000-mile road trips are a blast with Troy.
Hey, that reminds me! A while back I painted Troy a mug. He’d mentioned that he would like for me to paint him one, and I told him to let me know what he wanted, and then he got distracted and never did. And then I had a fantastic idea and painted him a mug to send him for Christmas. I never blogged it because I didn’t want him to see it and ruin the surprise, but he’s had the mug for a couple of months now so I think I can post the photos.
It’s a fact: Troy is awesome. I regularly thank him, after I’ve heard stories about someone else’s husband being obtuse or irresponsible or neglectful, for being awesome. I painted this mug half in serious tribute, half as an inside joke. And at least once, when Troy was carrying this mug down a passageway on the ship, someone read the mug out loud as he passed by and he was able to cheerfully say, “You’re welcome!” See? Like I said: AWESOME.
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A beautiful post, such expression of a wealth of emotions it made me ache. Your positive perspective is inspiring.
Awesome – great post.
Love this post! Thanks for sharing. Great mug – so creative – I remember sitting at the pottery place not being able to come up with ANYTHING – and there’s you’re amazing pattern intersecting naturally. Oh, and by the way, there’s a two-level Target at Wheaton plaza- just hop on the Metro…I know, not the point!!!!
I neglected to delurk when you specifically asked but this post has forced my hand. It is awesome, your blog is awesome! What a way for your husband to start his day with that mug. Perhaps if we all were kinder to those we hold dear, we’d have less issues. I’m taking this to heart and letting my unappreciated hubby know that yes, he is awesome. Maybe if I say it enough those little things that irritate me will fall below my radar so I can fully appreciate the good things, great things he does do!
This post is exactly why I would read your blog even if we weren’t real life friends. You guys are both awesome, so thank you!
Awwsum! Aww your post made me well up a little bit (and laugh at the last little anecdote – it’s sooo Troy). I am so glad he will be back soon too!
I often tell Rocco how much I appreciate him being such a good husband too -it sounds kind of repetative, but who doesn’t like to hear about the great things about themselves. It’s one thing you’ve always been good at as a friend too, B!
2 questions: are you stopping through Oregon on your way, and did you have to look up bougainvillea to know how to spell it?
I love Troy’s sense of humor, a postcard to the cats is awesome! And I’m so glad that we got to meet him before he had to leave on his 180+ days tour.
This is a really good post, it brings to life so many emotions and feelings. I really admire you and the way you handle these changes so well, I really fear that I would fall apart if I had to deal with that. I struggle every year at this time when Kevin’s busy season kicks in and he works so many hours.
So… what is your travel route for moving across the country? You wouldn’t happen to be passing through here, would you? :-)
LOL, I can’t believe the number of people that were put out that I wouldn’t post Larry’s homecoming date on facebook. I am glad that the end is near, especially since I’m looking forward to being able to meet you IRL. I hope you have an awesome time left with the friends you have there!
You guys are so cute! And Troy cracks me up.
See you this weekend! Yay!
bethany, both you and this post are awesome. :)
*sigh* I’m going to miss you too!
But hey, at least you get to do the whole moving thing (and I agree that it’s exciting) with an awesome husband/dad/cat father!
Okay, this makes me rather weepy – in a good way. Seeing all those photos of you and Annalie living, but waiting, on Troy.
*sniff*sniff*
He is so very awesome. :)
I’ll have to admit that halfway through reading I was saying “no no no no no, don’t go!!!!” but I know that change is good and that when we say our final goodbye it won’t be a forever goodbye. I have a funny goodbye story for you if you ever want to hear it. It might be stupid but it always makes me laugh.
OK, enough of the sad talk. I am so happy that Troy is on his way home to you guys.
I never got back to your email (I’m sorry about that!) but that moving thing, and leaving my family, is a large part of why I decided not to move with that Navy guy I told you about. And a lot of other stuff too, but that was a big reason.
But, you’ll be back on the East Coast, which is super exciting. If you guys ever make it down to FL, I’d love to see you!
This was a really sweet post Bethany and a great example of why I love to read your blog :)
You know we’ve never visited you but I’ll miss you when you’re all the way across the country. It’s not like we live super close. It’s just the potential for a drive down to you is easier when you’re in the same state.
I just can’t believe that you will be leaving soon. I am happy that you will get to put your arms around Troy soon. I bet Annalie is on pins and needles just waiting for him to come home. I wish that we would have had the opportunity to meet and let the girls play. Just know that your presence will be missed in SoCal, but on a positive note, more In and Out for me! Ha!
Good and safe travels to you and yours. Your outlook on life is extraordinary, your blog amazing, your photos gorgeous, and I think everyone should have one of those mugs! I would love to say, “Your welcome” over and over.
Oh, the secrecy! That’s exactly what it’s like working for Apple. Seriously…
I’m excited for you that Troy will be home soon.
I also hope that there will be a pottery place near your new home…I really want to buy one of those mugs from you, but you haven’t had one on in a bit. :(
And the postcard…priceless! You are one lucky girl.
your spirit of adventure is amazing. happy travels?! happy moving? ! happy hubby home?!
Test
Per your FB post here’s a test comment :)
Testing testing 1, 2, 3… is it working?? :) :) :)
Here, I’m leaving a comment for you to test your emailing-comment-ness.
Noah said “Anniiiie” when I was scrolling through the pictures. :)
Awwwww!!!
Liliana was reading this post with me and said, about the photo of you and Annalie, “That’s so cu-hoo-hoo-te!”
Hidee ho!
Did it work?
Leaving you a comment….did it work?
I was able to post a comment!
Your awesome words about Troy have stuck with me since you shared them back in September. It is so wonderful that he is that Awesome. May his awesomeness (is that a word?) rub off on others around him when they see how good he is.
As sad as it will be for you to leave such a gorgeous place and your amazing friends I am sure that you will be able to travel out to see them every once in a while. And we will try to get in a few visits since you will be on our side of the Country :).
Ah, life in the military. I hope the packing and travels go well. I’m excited to hear about your new adventures, but very happy for you that Troy will be home soon.