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Ok, about eight years ago I traveled to Little Eagle, SD on a missions trip with my church. While I was there, I met a boy two years younger than me (I was 14, he was 12) and it was like we were best friends instantly-we just clicked! His name is Marlin. I spent time with him for a total of about 15 days (over the course of two years) and the rest of the time we wrote letters to each other. Well, he stopped writing letters to me in 2000, but his mother wrote to me and it said that he loved getting my letters even though he couldn’t write to me often. After that letter, it was the last one I received. I wrote to him still, but my letters thinned out to about one a year. I remember that I put all of my contact information in there for him, but still-nothing. I assumed that he couldn’t afford to call me because the area he lived in didn’t fare well financially, but I could never understand why he never wrote to me.
Just recently, I was browsing the internet, and I was trying to find his name. I decided to look up his mother’s name on a website that supplied phone numbers. I was shocked that it came up! I waited until the next morning to call his mom, Wendy.
When Wendy picked up the phone, I asked for Marlin, and she immediately asked “Is this Katie?” I about fell off my chair! She told me about things going on in their life, and she told me about Marlin. She kept on telling me that my phone call was a blessing.
The best part was when she said that They would tease Marlin about me, and they would tell him that he would marry me someday. The funny thing is…my family would do the same thing! She told me that he would be so thrilled to talk to me.
But the bad new is–Marlin is in Iraq. I won’t disclose the other information (for security reasons) but he has been there for eight months. When I heard that, my heart sank. We talked about what he does there, and Wendy gave Marlin my phone number. It was so good to talk to her!!
AND GUESS WHAT???? Marlin called me!! I was surprised at the good quality of the phone call, but there was a short pause between the two of us. It was like we hadn’t been apart for eight years. He was laughing, and asking me questions about myself, and I asked him about himself too! The only part that sucked was that when I told him that I would invite him to my graduation, and when I would mention seeing him after he got home, he would say that he couldn’t promise anything. He seemed to imply either that he might go back to Iraq, or that he might not make it (if you know what I mean). We talked for 45 minutes before he had to let me go. He said that he would call me in a couple of days, but his mom said that he never knows when he can gain access to a phone.
I told him that I am praying for his physical, mental, and spiritual safety, along with any other safety that he can obtain. I plan on going to South Dakota in July because he will be back for 15 days. OOHHH I cant wait!! I cannot wait to throw my arms around him, and hold him again! You know-when I was in SD eight years ago, he gave me a HUGE hug after not seeing me for a year. I can’t wait to see him!
It was funny because he was telling me how much he grew up thinking that I might be dissapointed in him, but all I could say was, “I don’t care-I am just so happy to hear from you-I am just happy that you are ok!”
I hope I’m not breaking any rules by making this so long! I think that after I post this, I will review the rules, and then I might come back and break this post up a bit. 😀
Oh eaglefeather831! I’m so glad that you got to hear from your friend after such a long time apart. My husband is also currently serving in Iraq, although he just left me a month ago.
Do you know if this is your friend’s first deployment? Deployments are hard on everyone and if it’s his first time it may be especially hard depending on what his job is. I’ll be sure to keep him in my thoughts as well.
P.S. I don’t think there are any rule about post length anywhere.
I’m glad you have found such a wonderful friend like Marlin, eaglefeathers 🙂 I think it is rare to find a person you can be away from for so long with little or no contact, and just instantly reconnect with when you do communicate. He sounds like a very special person 🙂 I’m sorry to hear he’s in such a dreadful place. 🙁 But I feel certain he will come home safe to you 🙂 and the two of you can continue to tease eachother about getting married ^_^
How long has he been in the service? Marines, is it?
pegasi1978 wrote:Oh eaglefeather831! I’m so glad that you got to hear from your friend after such a long time apart. My husband is also currently serving in Iraq, although he just left me a month ago.
Do you know if this is your friend’s first deployment? Deployments are hard on everyone and if it’s his first time it may be especially hard depending on what his job is. I’ll be sure to keep him in my thoughts as well.
P.S. I don’t think there are any rule about post length anywhere.
I think it is his first deployment. He told me that it was really good to hear my voice. He said that it is really hard there. I hope your husband will come home to you soon! I used to feel fortunate that I didn’t have to go through the feelings of worry and fear for a friend or family member who is deployed to Iraq, but it has changed now. I feel somewhat guilty for originally feeling that way, and all I can do now is pray, pray, and pray some more!
WolfenMachine wrote:I’m glad you have found such a wonderful friend like Marlin, eaglefeathers 🙂 I think it is rare to find a person you can be away from for so long with little or no contact, and just instantly reconnect with when you do communicate. He sounds like a very special person 🙂 I’m sorry to hear he’s in such a dreadful place. 🙁 But I feel certain he will come home safe to you 🙂 and the two of you can continue to tease eachother about getting married ^_^
How long has he been in the service? Marines, is it?
haha-well, I guess he missed that boat because I am married now! 🙂 It kinda makes me wonder how things could have been different, you know-“what if” scenereo! He is in the Army, and I feel comforted when you say that you feel certain he will come home ok! Thank you!
Greater Basilisk wrote:That sounds great, eaglefeather! I’ll add Marlin to my prayers; I hope he comes home safely.
Awww!! Thank you so much! every prayer will definitely help!
eaglefeather831 wrote:I think it is his first deployment. He told me that it was really good to hear my voice. He said that it is really hard there. I hope your husband will come home to you soon! I used to feel fortunate that I didn’t have to go through the feelings of worry and fear for a friend or family member who is deployed to Iraq, but it has changed now. I feel somewhat guilty for originally feeling that way, and all I can do now is pray, pray, and pray some more!
I know my husband loves when he gets to talk to me and our son. It’s a ray of sunshine in such a dreary place. This is my husband’s second deployment, since he just left me he won’t be home for a few months. Also since he’s Army and the announcement was made a few months back he’ll be gone 15 months. I can’t remember if the ones who are already there are getting extended or not, plus is may very between branches.
If you can try to get his address in Iraq, that way you can send him letters and packages to help keep his spirits up. If you need help with ideas of things to send let me know and I can try to dig up a list for you.
When you do see him again, expect some changes. Soldiers see a lot of things over there that are rough on the psyche. My husband has done his best to shield me from it, but I know that some of the things he saw were pretty bad (and he isn’t one to go out on patrols).
pegasi1978 wrote:eaglefeather831 wrote:I think it is his first deployment. He told me that it was really good to hear my voice. He said that it is really hard there. I hope your husband will come home to you soon! I used to feel fortunate that I didn’t have to go through the feelings of worry and fear for a friend or family member who is deployed to Iraq, but it has changed now. I feel somewhat guilty for originally feeling that way, and all I can do now is pray, pray, and pray some more!
I know my husband loves when he gets to talk to me and our son. It’s a ray of sunshine in such a dreary place. This is my husband’s second deployment, since he just left me he won’t be home for a few months. Also since he’s Army and the announcement was made a few months back he’ll be gone 15 months. I can’t remember if the ones who are already there are getting extended or not, plus is may very between branches.
If you can try to get his address in Iraq, that way you can send him letters and packages to help keep his spirits up. If you need help with ideas of things to send let me know and I can try to dig up a list for you.
When you do see him again, expect some changes. Soldiers see a lot of things over there that are rough on the psyche. My husband has done his best to shield me from it, but I know that some of the things he saw were pretty bad (and he isn’t one to go out on patrols).
Marlin told me that he would be back in the states soon. I asked for an address, and he said that he would be back home by the time any letter got to him. I think he will go back after that because He’ll only be home for 15 days. I did think about the changes that might occur. When I am able to get the address for when he goes back, I will definitely ask you for some ideas!
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