What's a Year?

That's what lil' Gretchen asked yesterday when I said that Uncle Dougie would be gone for a year. All I could say was "It's a long time." and it is! I know everyone is doing their best to encourage me by saying that a year isn't long at all, but it is. When you love someone and they're going to be in harm's way, a year is an eternity. The only way my heart can survive this is to break it down into increments or benchmarks (in special ed, we focus on benchmarks so it would appear that the teacher in me just can't quit). They are:

1. End of Summer. I figure if I can get through the summer, it will be a milestone. I was really looking forward to this summer because it was to be the summer that Doug and I started our life together. Instead, I'm going to try to keep myself busy with every imaginable activity I can think of.
2. Thanksgiving. If I can get to Thanksgiving, I will know that I've conquered another season and that only Winter and Spring lie ahead of me.
3. New Year's - If I can get to New Year's, then I will have defeated the holiday season successfully.
4. My Birthday/ First Day of Spring - Doug will be home in just a few months from this day. I will make it!!!!!

When I focus on it that way, it makes it slightly more bearable.