LEARNING TO MANAGE

By Kathleen M. Rodgers

Thursday, August 30

The noise of a large aircraft overhead wakes me at 6 a.m. Another transport headed for Saudi Arabia, and I’m glad Tom’s already gone. We’ve already gone through the hell of saying good-bye.

Later in the morning, I stop by a friend’s house to see her new baby, born just two days before her husband left for Saudi Arabia. It’s their first child, and my friend will not have her husband there to offer support and love as she makes the adjustments in her new and often demanding role of motherhood.

While there I visit with another wife, an active-duty captain married to a pilot in our squadron. She has just returned from a lengthy deployment overseas—just two days after her husband deployed to Saudi Arabia. After hearing their stories, my problems seem minor.

In the afternoon, a friend from church stops by, and I ask Mary Frances, a former Navy wife of twenty-two years, how she handled the long separations when Sid was at sea. “I didn’t let my mind dwell on my own problems. I tried to keep busy doing things for other people. And I laughed a lot.” Good advice from a lady who’s been there.

After she leaves, TC helps me tie a huge yellow bow around a big oak tree next to our driveway. TC informs me that it’s not to come down till Daddy gets home. Then we’re off to pick up JP, who’s been at the base child development center while TC was at school and I ran my errands. When we arrive at the center, we notice streamers of tiny yellow ribbons hanging from the bushes and trees in front of the building. JP, who is happy to see us, runs to point out one little ribbon among many on a tree and says proudly, “I hung this for D-A-D-D-Y!”

Before supper, a thunderstorm hits, and the power goes out. Once it’s back on, I discover that the digital clocks on the microwave and VCR are flashing 0:00s, and I don’t know how to reset them. Typical temporary-duty (TDY) breakdowns. Time to search for those owner’s manuals.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from becoming weary. Give me Your eternal perspective.

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