Day 312: Good-bye

One of the many challenges of army life is its transient nature. Tonight we spent the evening celebrating with friends and saying good-bye to someone who has been a great friend to me, Chad and Lil Bit.

It is late, so this will be short, but Taylor decided that his career goals were going to take him out of the military. He decided to pursue a career in the FBI and is leaving at the end of this week to go to Quantico to start his training. He is a brilliant and kind man and he and his wife Stephanie have a great relationship and bright future. They are special people.

If it weren't for the military, we never would have gotten to meet them. While we too often have to also say good-bye to our friends, in the short time I have been a military wife, we have made friends that will probably last a lifetime. I have a friend in Georgia, a friend in Korea, a friend in Ohio, plus all of the friends back home. Soon I will have friends in Virginia and then wherever Taylor gets stationed after training. I am glad Steph isn't leaving just yet, but within a few months, she will be heading out to meet her husband in their new home where Taylor will begin his career as a G-man : ).

It is hard to say good-bye. Many people stay in one place for a majority of their lives and are friends with the same people for decades. Army wives have to recreate themselves and make new friends about every three to four years. While a chance to reinvent oneself is nice, making new friends whom you will eventually have to say good-bye to is difficult. Thank goodness for the technology that will allow us to stay in touch. We may not have dinner once a week or share lunchtime but we can still call and be able to touch base with the people who know and understand us just the way we are.

Good luck, Taylor. You will be a fantastic agent. We are all very proud of you. You are a rare combination of intelligence, strength, wit, gentleness, loyalty, and kindness. Hopefully, your new venture will bring you success, adventure and happiness.