Friday Fill-In (on Thursday)

I absolutely loved the questions this week for Wife of a Sailor’s Friday Fill-In. Even if you’re not a military spouse, I’d love to read your answers to these!

1. What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you? For Kenny’s first deployment I was still living in New Mexico, so I came out to visit him in Georgia just before he left. We had it all planned out—I would take him to base and see him off. Well, the Air Force had other plans and decided to delay his departure time by an entire day, and he ended up leaving hours after I was supposed to fly out. 

That morning we lost track of time and ended up leaving a little too late for me to catch my plane. When we got to the airport the plane’s engines were running and I had to practically beg them to let me on the flight. I was going to check in my bag, but since the plane was literally about to take off they made me carry it on. 

I remember being stressed, sad, angry, and completely flustered about what was going on. I had to leave my shampoo and conditioner with Kenny and before I knew it they were telling me I had to get on the plane “now” if I wanted to go. Since everything was extremely rushed, Kenny and I barely had time to say bye. Remember, this was our first deployment and I had no idea what to expect or when I would talk to him again. We hugged, kissed, and said goodbye, and I stumbled on the plane. 

The water works started as soon as I sat down in my seat. I started bawling—loud sobs, really—right there on the plane. At that moment I didn’t care what people thought about me; my heart was breaking. A flight attendant came over (while the plane was literally taking off) and brought me some Kleenix and water. She sat there with me and held my hand. A stranger, someone who had other jobs to do, sat there and held my hand until I could breathe again. I have no idea who she was or if I even thanked her (I’m sure I did, but I was in such a daze I have no idea), but she was extremely kind and helped me gt through the next few hours.

2. If you are having a hard time going to sleep, what do you do to help yourself? There’s a song called “let go” by a guy named Matt Ryczek with wonderful lyrics. I first heard it back in college and sometimes I sing it to myself to fall asleep: 

3. Name something that makes you wish you were a kid again. Easter. I loved getting dressed up in my pretty Easter dress and going to hang out with my family. We always had a massive Easter egg hunt and delicious food. It was always so much fun to go searching for eggs with my cousins.

4. What is something you never believed until you experienced it? That mushrooms could actually be delicious. I used to HATE mushrooms with a passion, but then I tasted a mushroom while I was in England and fell in love. I was love at first bite and I was smitten. Mushrooms are one of the most-used veggies in our house now!

5. What can’t you say “no” to? My husband’s hugs. He has this thing he likes to do when he knows I’m upset or mad (even at him). He comes over and gives me a long, lingering hug. Even if I don’t want to (mostly if I’m mad at him), he’ll stand there and just hold and hug me until I relax. It doesn’t always make me completely not mad anymore, but it makes me a teensy weensy less upset.