The Good Comes Like A Tidal Wave

I never watch the President speak. Never have. But last night I did. I have never seen so much good news, for me personally come out of one speech. It was a good one, and he delivered it really well. which isn’t shocking, President Obama is a great speaker. I found out this could be our last deployment for a very long time. I found out they are going to get the much needed support of 30,000 troops!

That’s huge. Our brigade has been hit, and hit hard since they arrived in country. Back to back to back missions, very little down time, too many injuries and deaths to count. I don’t mind as much as I thought that he gave a timeline for withdrawal. I understand it’s a big risk, and one I always said I didn’t support. But the government, and security forces over there NEED to realize we aren’t going to keep hanging around while that dally about getting it together. But those timelines also give me relief. That’s the part that isn’t mentioned by the detractors. That the soldiers and their families need, and DESERVE to know that we aren’t going to keep saying goodbye to our spouses every other year for an indefinite period of time.

He did a great job of reminding the world why we are in Afghanistan, and reminding them why we need to keep going and do it right. Too many people seem to have forgotten, in the shadow of Iraq. It’s almost like they had nothing left to protest with the Iraq war when it’s timeline was becoming clear, so they moved on to Afghanistan.

Now, I’m not stupid, and I’m not naive. I know even with timelines, situations change. This may not be our last deployment. I’d be crazy to think that, when he has almost 14 years left in the Army. But it gives me HOPE for the near future. That once I have him home, and in my arms again, maybe, just maybe I won’t have to let go for a while.

And even if that wasn’t part of the plan with this speech, that was the result. I said when he was elected I had no opinion, and I’d form one for myself while he was in office. So far, it’s a good one. I have never gotten tears  in my eyes during a speech either. but last night, I did. Tears of joy, and of hope.