The Sound of His Voice
"I felt it shelter to speak to you." ~Emily Dickinson
My husband and I took our daughter to a pool party the other day in a neighborhood we had never been in before. As we drove around looking for the exit, we had one of those rare moments when we could talk to each other without the distraction of music or phone, technology or children. As I drove around toward the entrance I found myself soaking in this time with him. I soaked it in so much, that I drove right by the street that would take me out of the community. When he asked me why I missed my turn, I had to fess up that I was too busy enjoying the sound of his voice to notice.
We had a chance to fly away for a weekend when the kids were little and we were delirious to be in our connecting airport waiting for our final leg of the trip. We grabbed some grown up food and sat in a table for two near our gate talking about things like we used to before we had children. Our conversation took over so much of our attention that we missed the boarding of our flight. When we went to the gate, the airline employee was so entertained by our story that they flew us first class on the next flight out. We arrived at our weekend away a half a day late because we were so caught up with each other.
During the deployments, I never knew when Vic was going to call. He had two ten minute phone calls a week (during the later deployment from his office, during the earlier deployment from morale phones) Some weeks he would miss us and we would only have his voice on the message machine. On the great days when he would call and I would be home, the sound of his voice would bring me to tears. We would have nine minutes to connect through the phone before a voice would announce "One Minute". I hated that voice. We named "her" Big Voice and we would joke about how quickly she would interrupt our time. Ten minutes, twice a week.
Being separated under such circumstances sheds light on exactly how much you depend on your spouse for strength. We've been together since college and as great of friends as I have, nobody knows me like my husband does. It is by his side that I feel whole, it is the sound of his voice that gives me strength, it is the smile on his face that encourages me. During deployments I would try to be strong and encouraging for everyone. It was only at the sound of his voice could I be fully me.
We are apart this week because of travel, but my phone rang last night and it was Vic. He was safe in his destination and wanted to make sure the kids and I were too. I went to sleep easier having heard the sound of his voice.
My husband and I took our daughter to a pool party the other day in a neighborhood we had never been in before. As we drove around looking for the exit, we had one of those rare moments when we could talk to each other without the distraction of music or phone, technology or children. As I drove around toward the entrance I found myself soaking in this time with him. I soaked it in so much, that I drove right by the street that would take me out of the community. When he asked me why I missed my turn, I had to fess up that I was too busy enjoying the sound of his voice to notice.
We had a chance to fly away for a weekend when the kids were little and we were delirious to be in our connecting airport waiting for our final leg of the trip. We grabbed some grown up food and sat in a table for two near our gate talking about things like we used to before we had children. Our conversation took over so much of our attention that we missed the boarding of our flight. When we went to the gate, the airline employee was so entertained by our story that they flew us first class on the next flight out. We arrived at our weekend away a half a day late because we were so caught up with each other.
During the deployments, I never knew when Vic was going to call. He had two ten minute phone calls a week (during the later deployment from his office, during the earlier deployment from morale phones) Some weeks he would miss us and we would only have his voice on the message machine. On the great days when he would call and I would be home, the sound of his voice would bring me to tears. We would have nine minutes to connect through the phone before a voice would announce "One Minute". I hated that voice. We named "her" Big Voice and we would joke about how quickly she would interrupt our time. Ten minutes, twice a week.
Being separated under such circumstances sheds light on exactly how much you depend on your spouse for strength. We've been together since college and as great of friends as I have, nobody knows me like my husband does. It is by his side that I feel whole, it is the sound of his voice that gives me strength, it is the smile on his face that encourages me. During deployments I would try to be strong and encouraging for everyone. It was only at the sound of his voice could I be fully me.
We are apart this week because of travel, but my phone rang last night and it was Vic. He was safe in his destination and wanted to make sure the kids and I were too. I went to sleep easier having heard the sound of his voice.
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