Mrs. Smith,

Sorry to hear about your son's impending departure. I have a little brother over there, and though initially my family was originally made to believe we would only be able to communicate with him via snail mail, there have been exceptions to that. So, with that in mind, I hope you find the same to hold true. It all depends on his original stationing, tools that he has available (phone, computer), how many times he may be moved, his job (MOS - Military Occupation Specialty), the weather, and a numerous other factors.

Each day that passes, he is one day closer to getting back home (either on leave, or end of his tour). I hope like hell you get about halfway through the deployment and he has a chance to come home for a few. Does a heart good.

A bit off topic - my siblings and I all met at my mom and step-dad's yesterday to spend time together (a late Christmas due to bad weather and lack of available time during the actual holiday) and all of our kids (mine and my siblings children) were opening presents. I found myself nearly in tears when I heard his voice from a book that my son had received. Didn't expect that. Kept myself together, though.
However, when my step-dad (formal titling - he has done well in trying to be a dad....and so has my real dad...props to both of them) opened his present, he heard the same, and started crying pretty darn hard. I heard my mom say "You're not gonna cry again, are you?" and I issued a rebuttal. He is entitled to cry, as is any family member that is going through the same. So I reminded him that in short order, we should be seeing that face again for a few days, and then he'll go back over, and before you know if he'll be back home for good to go fishing, throw hay, put smiles on faces, and give us a live performance of Telephone by Lady GaGa live in person.

None of this is meant to make you frown, but as a platform for which you can build a method to get past this tough time. For if we do not have hope...what do we have?

The very best to you and yours, as well as anybody else that has a loved one away. None of your pain goes unseen, none of your hurt unheard.

May all of your family, as well as the members of this forum, provide you the strength to get through, and a shoulder to lean on if you need.

Regards,

TheVoiceInYourHead (Yeah, the same guy that made a cameo appearance on voice chat the other night...next time I visit, I'll be more formal)

P.S. Anybody that might decide to enter this thread and chide the trials that any family member of a soldier is going through....I offer you the following....