The office where I work was “quiet” yesterday because several of my co-workers were gone. I was working on an assignment from my boss when my cell phone began to vibrate. I reached over and picked it up. It said “Call from UNKNOWN.” My heart quickened and I’m sure I was grinning as I answered it! This caller was not “Unknown”! This message told me TJ was calling!
As we began the conversation, I was able to slip away from my desk and sought the privacy of the conference room in my office. I was so thankful for the “quiet” day!
TJ is doing very well. He told me that he had proclaimed it “Super HUA Day!” and had gone to work in FULL gear: Knee pads, elbow pads, helmet, goggles, gas mask, etc. (If this idea of his makes no sense to you, please go back and read my post titled “Laughter Does Good, Like Medicine … Day 71”.) As he told me about his new “holiday” he said that one of his commanders saw him and just began laughing! It made TJ’s day to bring that kind of joy to someone else’s day. I asked him if anyone had taken a picture of him and he said, “Of course not! Why would they?” (…Well, so much for that scrapbook page!)
TJ continues to excel at his job and to thoroughly enjoy the deployment. One of the commanders recently asked him when his deployment would end. “January 31st, Sir!” he answered. “Oh, I was hoping you’d be here at least through May,” the commander replied. “I hate the idea of being here without you.” TJ immediately told the commander he would be very willing to have his deployment extended, but they both know that this kind of change is very unlikely. TJ explained to me that for an extension to be granted, his home base would have to permit it - and they most likely would not do that because they insist they are short-handed and really need him back there.
I brought him up-to-date with the things happening here at home with Joe and myself. He said he had received a note from his grandmother, and could I tell her that he appreciated it. And so, the conversation continued. It seemed all too soon when he said he had to go.
After we said good-bye and I returned to my desk, I was so grateful. Just to hear his voice was such an encouragement! To hear the laughter in his voice as he told me about “Super HUA Day,” to catch the excitement he still has just from being there, and to sense the joy he feels in doing what he loves and believes in! It made my heart soar!
Then I thought about the bygone days - actually, not that long ago - when a deployment meant not just months of separation, but usually very slow (if any) opportunities to communicate with a serviceman overseas. And most certainly, NO phone calls! How blessed we are these days that modern technology enables us to communicate with loved ones that are literally half-way around the world from us, in a time-zone that is ten hours ahead of us, and yet, we talked with each other as if he were standing right outside my office building! How very fortunate we are! How very grateful I am!!
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