Soon...

It's hard to believe it's already been 8 months already.
I don't believe it's possible to ever be truly ready for a deployment. I know I am definitely not ready to do #2. But I can already feel myself entering the first stage beforehand: denial. It's hard to remember how I survived the first time; how I managed...how we all did. It feels so alien and far away. A different life maybe. Yet, it wasn't that long ago at all. How did I exist without you here? How did I sleep without you next to me? I know it happened. I just can't remember anymore. And I wish I didn't have to remember.
God, give me the strength.

Photo: Unknown found via The Coalition of the Swilling