The first two weeks went by without a ray of sunshine. Northeastern Ohio poured rain for days with no sign or hope of it stopping. The silence was as steady as the rainfall. I busied myself with as many activities and friends as I could, but nothing can fill the void of that he left.
The weeks pressed on and people got more and less interested in my life. "Are you ok?", "how are you doing with Frank gone". I am fine and I don't want to talk about it. I didn't like talking about how I felt, because no one but people who go through this understand. People would comment or ignore on my life's status'. Either way, I don't care what others do or thinkof me, I just worry about me and my SR.
On Saturday July 13th, I was getting ready to mow the lawn (my favorite household chore). I walked into the house to grab the mower key and as I was walking outside to the mower, my ringtone was sounding from the machine. I knew who it was. I sprinted to the garage, and answered the call from Waukegan, Illinois. The call lasted 15 minutes but it was the best 15 minutes of the past two weeks.
Frank said he had gotten my letters and he loved reading them. I should expect letters to arrive in the mail on Wednesday of that week. I stalked the post woman that day.
On and on the days went, the next slower than the past. I powered through my online summer classes, awaiting my final exams the next weekend.
The third week was dragging, on and on and that Saturday, Frank's grandfather passed away. I was at his' parent's house on Sunday when they got to call him and give him the news. He did not take it super hard, as he was not close to his grandfather, he was worried about his dad's well being. I told him to stay strong and to carry on in boot-camp like a brave little toaster.
Little did we know he would be allowed to attend the funeral that was taking place in Milwaukee, Wi that Friday. His parent's had already left the following morning, so I packed my bags Thursday night, took a Math final in Elyria, then drove out of Ohio, through Indiana, through Chicago (in rush hour) and up to Milwaukee, without an Air Conditioner in my car. I think I lost 5 pounds the entire drive.
I arrived at the hotel where his parents were staying, checked into my room, and started to take my online Astronomy final. I finished around 10pm, then I got ready for bed.
I slept 3 hours.
We left the hotel around 5am to pick Frank up. It was pouring big fat rain. Once we figured out where he was on base, we found him, standing there in the rain with a backpack, heavy raincoat, cracker jacks complete with the Dixie cup hat. He climbed into the cherry red Mercedes and smiled at me while his RDC said in a stern masculine voice with arms folded across her chest "don't be late". We gave each other our "dear god" look.
I wasn't sure what to say. It was surreal to have him sitting next to me. His parents gabbed and bickered a bit about directions. We got breakfast at a small place near base.
The weekend was great. Well, as great as it can be when attending a funeral. I met some of Franks family, had a nice meal, got teary eyed during the funeral service, and held my SR's hand for 36 hours. I don't think I ever let go, willingly.
Frank wanted a small pocket Bible to take back with him. He said all of the ones there are NIV and are lame. He likes the King James Version. So we got that at Barnes and Nobles after a slice of cheesecake and coffee at Cheesecake Factory. We also bought Q-Tips and a tank of gas.
Saying goodbye was just as hard, if not more hard than the first time. Although, this time it wasn't raining.
It is now August 19th, and the countdown is getting shorter. It is almost time to leave for Graduation. It's gotten harder for me to write letters, with time constrains and lack of words to say. I know he is doing well. I expect a phone call Friday.
Bootcamp will soon be over, and the next journey will begin.
