Getting ready to say goodbye...

In a few short weeks, I'll be saying goodbye to my husband while he takes off on another deployment.  I have been a Navy wife for over 12 years, and let me tell you this goodbye thing never has gotten easier.  He will be gone for 8 months this time, to a place hes never been and I am not happy about it.  I am fortunate to have my family where we live, we live in the town I was born and raised so I am blessed to be surrounded by both our families, but sometimes when I am feeling like I just don't want to talk about being alone for such a long time, or answer any more questions about how we are coping, family can work my nerves.  I am not a social butterfly, I have a best friend, my husband and my sister, my closest comrades who have seen my sides to which I show no one else.  I like my alone time, I like knowing that I can handle things while my husband leaves and don't need a whole fleet of support to get me though every minute.  On the downside of being so independent, I tend to just shut out people without realizing I may hurt feelings.  But I am so used to being alone, and doing what I gotta do to get my husband kids and I through a deployment that I just do and don't ask or accept help.  My lesson for anyone in my boat, pardon the pun, accept help, accept a visit, or an offer to have your kids babysat for a bit, go out and do something for you, don't be afraid to ask for help if you know and trust the person, you will go nuts if you try and handle the stress of deployments alone.  And don't forget to smile while doing it all, even on your worst day, smile because its all you can do to get through a day !