Most know this, but as a recap, starting in early/mid November 2009, Jeff (the husband) was asked to move to India for work. It was VERY sudden; we're talking, we learned of this possibility [read: certainty] on a Wednesday, and Jeff was gone by the following Wednesday. There were lots of reasons he *had* to go; a client needed him, this was a chance for him to show his flexibility, a great opportunity, a great big check mark on his resume/management portfolio, yet another chance to live abroad, and on and on.
Reasons it was not awesome: so far in our first year of marriage, we had lost two grandmothers, one very close friend (the husband of one of my best friends & a bridesmaid in my wedding), and now - we were having to separate for 3+ months. Of course, if this was London, or Paris, or Hong Kong, it would not have been so bad - those are clean, interesting, developed, dynamic locations... but India? It wasn't a dream location, and that's just putting it lightly. Regardless, Jeff went...our first hosting of Thanksgiving for our families was cancelled, we'd both spend our six-month wedding anniversary solo, and there would be a two-month stint in which we never saw each other; though we did get to spend a week together @ Christmas.
We come to now, as Jeff has been back about three weeks, and is on a plane back to DC, after having been in CA for work this week (more travel!). I can look back on the three month stint, and even this past four-day stint and say: absence DOES make the heart grow fonder. Would we have chosen to be apart? No - clearly not. But, in these circumstances, we did what we needed to do for Jeff's career, for US (Team US), and we will continue to do that, even if it means more time apart. It's not easy... It sucks giving four minute synopses of our goings-on, or talking to each other in odd moments, when it's the end of his day & the beginning of mine. But, through it all, we realized how strong the other person is... I never cried, not once, while Jeff was gone. I just kept thinking, if there are solider's wives out there dealing with being separated from their husbands for 12, even 15 months at a time, I can SURELY handle this three months. If my dear friend, Katie, can lose her husband of one and 1/2 years, WAY too early and still charge forward with tremendous strength and grace, then most surely, this should be NOTHING to endure.
Jeff...dealt with sickness - real, physical sickness (which was almost always present, and at times, very bad), in addition to overall homesickness. Though he lived in a lovely hotel and met some truly incredible people during the time in India - he also saw and captured raw, heartbreaking poverty on levels that most of us can't even imagine; and it was ALL around him, even in what India terms "developed" areas. It just makes you all the more aware of how VERY, VERY blessed we are to live where we do, and have what we have. Through it all, Jeff NEVER complained - never.
We decided to look at this as a knock on the knee...and we did. It has made us stronger, this "knock on the knee." I am so appreciative to have a partner...not a "complement" to me, or a missing puzzle piece, but a TRUE PARTNER to share my life with, who challenges me, and inspires me, and makes me feel SO confident in myself, in all ways. I am ALSO so glad to have those three months behind us, to look back on that crazy time when Jeff was in India, and I was here, and we were experiencing our first, bizarro year of marriage a world apart. Such is life!
Not to mention: I got some GREAT jewelry out of the experience. ;-) Keep it positive!
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