When my husband deploys, we primarily write letters.
I have kept them in binders – one for each deployment.
These are the ones Seth has written to me.
The night we met in February of 2003, he was getting ready to deploy to Iraq.
At the very end of the evening, he asked me for my mailing address.
I didn’t hear from him again for 4 months.
“Stupid guy — he just wanted my number… “
And then I received this very sweet letter…
Dear Annie,
I thought I would write you and ask how school is doing and if you still plan on doing Civil War reenacting for a while. I’m sitting in a little area of Baghdad that our forces pretty much destroyed. This is one of the worst god awful places I have ever been.
I would like to very much spend some more time with you when I get back to the states… Have you met anyone else since you’ve been in Lansing you are dating because I wouldn’t want to intrude… From what I’ve seen of you are very bright and intelligent also very beautiful… a girl I wouldn’t mind spending time with having fun…
I’m pretty bored right now so if I sound like I’m rambling on I’m sorry. Here in Iraq there are a lot of cultural differences compared to the US. I’ve seen more homeless chillens than I’ve ever seen and they lack food or water. If I could I would take a couple back. Hope I didn’t bore you and talk to you soon.
Sincerely,
PFC Seth …..
Honestly – I barely remembered what he looked like.
A tall skinny guy with glasses and a contagious smile.
“I think you are very bright and intelligent and also very beautiful.”
We fell in love during that year of letter writing.
And this very first letter is one of my most treasured possessions.
What is your love story? How did you meet your husband?
Do you write letters to each other? I highly recommend it.
June 24, 2011 at 4:14 am
Wow… What a treasure! We’ve been through so many deployments, I’ve actually lost count. Of course, with access to the phone and the internet, it never occurred to me to write letters. I think it’s so wonderful that you & your hubby have done this for each other…. You will cherish those letters for years to come…..
– Olivia -
July 15, 2011 at 11:12 am
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July 29, 2011 at 3:56 pm
This letter made me cry. I’m a newbie, my husband has only deployed once and I have a handful of letters that I cherish with all my heart. I loved seeing your letter binders and will encourage more letter writing in the future. It is easy to get lazy when email is available, but there is something about a paper letter that is so sincere and romantic. I think seeing strong emotional connections and romance with seasoned military relationships is really important for newbies like me. The military life is a big change and positivity isn’t all prevalent….it must be found. I’m glad to have found your blog. Thanks!
August 22, 2011 at 3:10 am
I love this
such a big treasure to your heart yet such a small thing that so many people today dont even think to do because of all the technology these days!!!
January 7, 2012 at 2:21 pm
he was Active Duty in the Army stationed in Korea in 2005-2006. I was living with my boyfriend if you want to call him that in my home state of GA. I was going through my issues, depression and trying to survive after my first husband had died and I had all this new responsibility and crap to deal with on top of not being able to see my son. So I blogged. I blogged on Yahoo 360. I blogged about how much my boyfriend sucked at life (he was on drugs illegal and prescription), emotionally abusive, His father was a jerk off, about the only thing he did have was he kept a good paying job until I left him then he even managed to blow a huge severance pay by messing up right before they let him sign. During this time my husband Rick moved to Alabama for a new assignment. We had been chatting just a little bit about his comments on my blog and swapping dating horror stories and life stories etc from Dec 2005. In mid 2006 he got stationed in Alabama. Anyways in late 2006 I was DONE with that relationship with my BF. I was asking my adopted mom for help for a first months rent of a efficiency hotel after my boyfriend slept three days on the stairs during Thanksgiving high on Xanax and Alcohol. I was working two part time jobs, single mother of two, busting my butt but I didn’t have a drivers license I had to depend on his uncle for a ride. My mom refused to help me its my bed I made it now I get to sleep in it. That’s not the first time I got her dose of tough love either. I took my daughter and I went to my sisters just to separate myself from the situation. I couldn’t live there. Rick had driven to GA to meet me. My sister was supposed to watch Skylar (she was 4) instead she let my ex boyfriend take her without my permission. Lets just say after I found out my ex Donnie had taken her to the woods. My adopted mother disowned me. I just left with Rick and never looked back.
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January 14, 2012 at 7:26 am
Oh my goodness… what an amazing story!
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January 23, 2012 at 4:51 am
Wow that is an amazing story! I love it! Aww
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May 11, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I saw this on your sidebar and had to check it out. What a sweet story! And how awesome that you can read those letters and relive those first conversations.
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July 26, 2012 at 12:43 pm
THAT IS SO ADORABLE.
Sorry, I stumbled across this very randomly, saw writing on what looked like the USA flag, and yeah. :p
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