ammogirl

You know, it’s a double-edged sword, this leaving thing.  While I’m so very glad to be going home, to be leaving this country behind, at the same time, saying goodbye to the friends I have made is…it’s…well, it sucks.

I just now said goodbye to people that I have spent nearly every day of the last 365 with.  With people who have been my family, who have looked out for me, who have worried about my well-being, who have made sure that above all, I am okay.  That might not seem like a big deal but…it is.  It is.

Sometimes I think that I just can’t handle this anymore, this constant saying goodbye.  And then I remind myself of all the friends I’ve made, of all the laughter we’ve shared, of all the memories, and I know it’s all worth it.

It really is all worth everything.

Auf Wiedersehen!!!

The first time I met John, I, thinking that here was a cute young boy I wouldn’t mind, erm…talking with, tried to strike up a conversation by asking him for an Altoid from the classic red and white tin he had just pulled out of his pocket.  He, thinking I was a much older divorcee with two children, looked at me funny and said "Um, but this is my last one", even though a quick glimpse CLEARLY showed TWO Altoids rattling around.  "Oh! I…hmm."  I said, thrown off by this blatant lie, and walked away.  To this day, he thinks I’m making this up.  When I insist I most certainly am not, he always asks "But why would I NOT give you an Altoid?  That’s dumb."  And rude, John.  Very rude. 

Three or so months later, after much flirting on my part, John kindly let me know that he didn’t date military girls.  However, he said, he would very much like to be friends.

That was almost seven years ago.  Obviously, I wore him down with my fabulousness - five years ago today, we stood in front of a gorgeous Lake Tahoe on an absolutely perfect day and said "I do".  Immediately afterwards, we, and our collective families, did what we do best: celebrate.  It was fun, it was SO MUCH fun, and to this day, that is the theme of our life:  We have so much fun together, always.

There are a million things I could tell you, about John.  He makes great salsa.  He laughs at my jokes, even when they aren’t funny - especially when they aren’t funny. He is my partner in crime when it comes to hiding cookies from the girls, so we can eat them all ourselves later.  He warms my feet up at night.  He is the reason I am me - anything that is good about me, all the sun and the bright and the happy, he found that in me and forced it to come out.  And more, and more and more.  He’s quite simply the most fabulous husband ever, and I am the luckiest girl in the world. 

Happy Anniversary, Love.  For the record, you really did say it was your last Altoid.  But I forgive you.

Forever, your girl.

Me again - two in one day!  It’s like, a Tree-nanza!  Or not.  Anyway, remember back in April, when I was having all those weird problems with, well, EVERYTHING IN MY BODY, and I went to the doctor and they took 78000 lab tests?  But then I didn’t hear anything back, because they lost all my labs, and I had to redo them, say…June-ish?  Remember?  But I STILL didn’t hear anything back, and after awhile I just assumed that, hey, they’d call me if something was wrong, so I must be fine.  Just in case, though, I called to see, and I was told over the phone that, indeed, my results were completely normal.

You know where this is going, right?

I just got a phone call from the clinic, and was told by a slightly out of breath Dr. Lee that he just found my lab results sitting on a desk, and noticed that some of my numbers were not right, and what do you mean, you were told they were normal?  Because, Sgt Williams, there was blood and protein in your urine, not A LOT, mind you, don’t worry, but enough to be not okay and JUST TO MAKE SURE, Sgt Williams, can you please come in Monday afternoon for some more tests?  And, are you feeling okay?  No…pain in your back, swelling?  Really?

You guys, great.  Wouldn’t you know that one week before I leave here I find out I’m defective?  Does this doctor not know who he is DEALING WITH?  For crap’s sake, I only JUST started sleeping full nights again, after the whole non-selling-house issue.  Now THIS!   Don’t worry, he tells me.  Pshh.

Anyway, I know y’all spend every waking moment wondering about my health and well-being.  Now you are up-to-date, and I can go google things like Polycystic Kidney Disease and Renal Failure. 

Auf Wiedersehen!!!