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 My name is Connie. Paul and I have been married for 7 happy years! Not easy ones though!! Being the wife of a seabee is difficult, and often lonely! That is one reason I have this page, and the 123-left-alone group! 123-Left-Alone is a new and growing group created for the loved ones of those serving our wonderful country. If you are left alone, for any length of time, because of their duties, please join this group. This site is directed towards those in the Seabees only because my husband in the Seabees; however, anyone is welcome to join our group!  Paul and I got married 4 months after we met. Two days later, we moved to Gulfport, MS where he was stationed (our homes are in PA). That was March of �94. By Sept. of �94 he was gone. Off to do his 7 month deployment in Guam. Here I was, just turned 19 a week before he left, never on my own before, newly married, in a completely new state, new time zone for that matter, and 1200 miles away from my family and friends. I was devastated. When I came home from dropping him off, I remember shutting the door, sliding to the floor against it and bawling. I stayed there for hours. I didn�t know what to do, or even where to start to figure it out. Days went by, and I was finally able to crawl out of bed and go to work. I learned and grew alot from that first time. I have seen some families come out stronger from the separation. They learn to appreciate each other more, and time that they spend together. On the other hand, I have seen these deployments rip families apart. You just have to be strong. For you newbies, I have some recommendations. Write LOTS AND LOTS of letters. They help out alot. Use tape recorders to make audio letters, and even video letters. For the kids, since they don�t comprehend time real well, try this: Make a paper chain (like the ones at Christmas), Put one link for each day they are supposed to be gone, then every night before the kids go to bed, let them rip off a link. It is neat to watch the chain get shorter and the anticipation grow. GO TO the Family Support Group, and get involved. It helps alot having other people around you going through the same thing you are, and you will meet friends. Use a count down, instead of 7 months, make it only 7 phone bills, or 14 paychecks (you look forward to payday anyhow!). For the more experienced spouses, e-mail me some things you used to help you get through the deployments, so we can help others. I will put them up here. Don�t forget, this isn�t our Seabee's fault, and this isn�t easy for them either, but it is their duty. Keep them part of the family, send them pics. We have to be strong for them so they can concentrate on their work, and not worry so much about us. One more warning: homecoming, after the initial day or so gets tough sometimes. You have to get readjusted to living, sharing, and dealing with being together again. It isn�t easy and takes some time. Please, if you are going through or about to go through a deployment or just want to talk, feel free to E-mail me or ICQ (11754889) me. I will be happy to help, listen, or just be there if you need someone. Connie We also �CAN DO!!� Please join us, and don't ever be alone, when they leave us alone!  [Site Map] [Family Photos] [Poetry] [Pro-Life] [Jesus Saves] [Links] [SIGN my guestbook] [View my guestbook] [E-Mail me] and I will provide a link or remove it, at copyright holder's discretion. Thank you. This page copyright � 2000 Connie Reed |