My vet, my love

That's "vet" for veteran, my sailor, my DH, my love. A few days have passed since Veteran's Day, but I still wanted to post.

Seven years and seven months ago my DH and I first met. We spent a total of five days together before he deployed on the USS Enterprise for six months. At some point during those six months he sent me a ratty, time-yellowed poster with a poem titled "Loving a Sailor" on it. The poem reads as follows:

Loving a Sailor is not always gay,
and loving a Sailor is a high price to pay.
It's mostly living with nothing to hold,
it's being young but feeling old.
It's having him whisper his love for you,
it's whispering back that you love him, too.
Then comes a kiss, a promise of of love,
knowing you're watched, approved from above.

Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go,
while you're dying inside from wanting him so.
Watching him leave with eyes full of tears,
standing alone with your hopes, dreams, and fears.
It's sending a letter with the stamp upside down
to a faraway love in a faraway town.
It's going to church to kneel and to pray,
and really meaning the things that you say.

And though you know that he's far away,
you just keep loving him more each day.
Being in love will merit your dreams,
with thoughts of heaven where love's light gleams.

Days go by and no mail for a spell,
you wait for a word bearing he's well.
The letter comes and you're filled with joy,
you're like a small child with a new shiny toy.
With fingers that tremble, and heart beating fast,
you tear open the letter and read it so fast.
Yes, he's doing well and he misses you so,
and it's filled with the love you want to know.

Weeks are a month, and months are a year,
you're waiting for the day that you will have no more fear.
Time passes slowly, yet it's gone very fast,
you're barely aware it's here until it's past.

Yes, loving a sailor brings bitterness and tears,
loneliness, sadness and dependent years.
Loving a Sailor isn't much fun
but it's worth the price when his time is done.
Remember he's thinking of you everyday,
he's sad and he's lonely for being away.
So love him, miss him, and try to be braver,
and always be proud of loving a Sailor.

Yeah, pretty corny. But the sentiment was not so corny that I would not reply with a poem of my own for him!

And loving a sailor and “promises” of things to come
May be the certain fate of some;
For deep in your heart you dream of the fun
Removing the injustice time apart has done.

Who would have thought that "Five Day Chris" and I would have come this far? To my vet, my sailor, my love, I say that I am so proud of you for so many reasons. And I can't wait for you to freaking be back home already.