Snapshot: Deployment May to Oct. 2006

Taken 24 Sept. 2006

During the day, the hustle and bustle of life keeps my mind occupied, but at night, in the dark when the world is quiet, that's where the loneliness threatens to consume me.--A. Schaefer

With Memorial Day fast approaching, I've been thinking a lot about the cost of Freedom. The first image that comes to mind when I contemplate said price is a flag-draped coffin, TAPS playing in the background. But there are other sacrifices we give in order to protect and preserve our way of life, ones that aren't as obvious. Below is an exchange between my husband and I as he came to the end of one of many deployments he went on during his 24 year Air Force Career. He was at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and we were both anxious for it to be over. This post is dedicated to all who know the sting of deployments and the joy of a loved one's safe return.

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
September 19, 2006

Hello Angel,

            Well another day down, and one day closer to getting home. In talking about that I have some Good/Bad News, I should be arriving on the 30th. I will say this is the first time that I have been packed and waiting to be told to get on the plane. I have almost everything ready to go. I think they could say there is your plane you need to be on it in an hour and I know that I could make that. As it gets closer I will firm that up. But that is what we are being told as of now. I think that there are many reasons, for different people, for this being the hardest TDY. But I think one of the reasons is that people are getting tired of doing this, and it is starting to wear on people. I mean they do not pay me enough (but then again I do not think that there is enough money) to do this part of the job. I am glad to hear that this Sub job is going better than that last one. I know that it must be hard to just sub and not have your own class. But I also know that you are good enough to walk into any class and be able to teach. Now for the photos. I love seeing you and the girls, and I cannot wait to see the others. Counting the time until I can talk to you.

 Waiting to hear your sexy voice.

Love you

Brad

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
22 September 2006

Hello Angel,

            I know that it is getting hard on you, not to say that it has not been hard this whole trip. I know that you are at the end of your rope and all I can do is ask you to try and hold on a little longer. I was talking with SSgt R. today and he was asking if you would know any information about when we were getting back. I told him that you and Beth could talk to MSGT S’s wife and maybe Lori and be able to see what is going on at that end. I know that you have done the return home part and Beth has never done it. I also know that you are hanging out at home and it may help if you talk with her. But then again I have no idea what all you are going through, it is just my two cents worth.

            OK as of right now what I know is, I will be landing at 1840 Local (6:40pm) on the 28th of September. I am hearing that you will pick us up at the Community Center. You will have to check with the people there to find out for sure. I know that you and I both know that there is nothing that I can do from here. But I want you to know that I wish that I could make things easier for you.

Well Angel I miss you tons

Love you

Brad

Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
23 September 2006

Hello Angel,

            Well sweetie we are getting close to this being over. There is an update to the flight home, the new ETA is 28 Sep 7:40 pm, we just slipped one hour later. I really miss your spaghetti, they make some here that is not bad but it is not yours. Thank you for the photos, I love them all. By the way I will help you find your patience and damn you look sexy. How did Sarah’s dance go? I hope everything went good for her. What is going on with her Boyfriend thing? I was thinking the other day that I would like to be more imaginative with some things. What I am getting at is you always have great endings to your letters and I think that I am just blah. SSgt. R. was just saying that Beth may call you and we were talking about how you ladies would find out what was going on there and when to pick us up. If you cannot tell I am jumping all around. But then again I do have sixteen thousand things going on to try to get out of here and it is just running over in my email.

Looking forward to talking to you in the morning.

Love you.

Warm kisses from the Desert

Brad

Sent to TSgt Brad Schaefer from Goldsboro, NC
23 September 2006:

Hello, lovey.
 
Your e-mail made me smile. Imagination is always a good thing, in MANY ways applied to MANY different things (including how you close your e-mail, which I liked very much...but aren't kisses from the desert SMOKIN' H-O-T???). I'm glad you think I'm sexy. It's amazing that you do after all these years. It's not like you don't know where every single freckle is, for Pete's sake. Still, it makes me smiles.
 
Sarah and her little buddy, Z-, haven't figured out the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing. Right now they're just flirting back and forth with the idea that they like each other. I think the little girl in the middle, M-, who also likes Z- and is very VOCAL about it is making the situation for them awkward and uncomfortable. M- does the whole "jealous of Sarah" thing, and Z- backs off. Sarah told me to stay out of it (AGAIN) and that's what I'm doing. I just let her talk to me about what's going on and MOST of the time keep my thoughts about it to my damn self. I'm glad she feels like she can talk openly with me and I want that to continue. Besides, I totally believe she can handle
herself. I made waffles for brunch and the girls and I sat around the bar talking about all kinds of stuff. I tell you, Brad, it's times like that that get me through the other crap. Without them, I'd be completely lost. They've grown into such intelligent, sweet, warm young ladies and I'm extremely proud of them. They are the delight in the madness of our life. Today, they're doing their chores (reluctantly, grudgingly, but they're doing them).
 
I'm not as sad today as I have been the last couple of days. Sometimes all of it just gets to me, ya know. It's not always easy to keep the whole thing in perspective when the loneliness is choking me. I don't think you can help me with my lack of patience but I know you can certainly help me with the rest of it. I guess it just depends on how much you really want to know about what's going on, the DETAILS of what's going on in my head on any given day. I definitely have a problem with thinking/over-analyzing things too much! That's always been a
problem for me, though. I have been that way for as long as I can remember. And I'm never sure if you want to know, or even digest half the things I share with you, when I do share them. I know it's a lot to take in. It's a lot for ME to take in. Anyway, I'm rambling now and I'm going to stop it.
 
I'll talk to you later tonight and sometime this afternoon, I'll take some more pictures and get them in an e-mail for you. Since I'm getting ready to do housework right now, I'm SOOOOOOo not going to take pictures
of me lookin' all hagged out ready to scrub toilets. NOT attractive.
 
Sending you many kisses and tight sweet hugs.
 
I love you. Always!
 
 Amy M. Schaefer


Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
His Reply on 24 September 2006:

Hello Angel,
        Well I am glad that I can make you smile from here. Anyway you need to smile every day. And yes I know where all your freckles are and love every inch of your body. You know that no matter what you are doing
you are sexy even doing yard work or scrubbing toilets.
        I have two requests for the 28th. One, can you bring me a couple of Smirnoff when you pick me up, and second can you wear a thong. So that way I can think dirty thoughts all the way home.
        Now, I am sure that I cannot fix anything, but I am always willing to hear anything and everything that you want to talk about. I will always do my best to listen as a friend and try not to in put anything but an open hand or an ear to hear what is going on. In saying that I am sure that there are going to be some things that I am not
going to understand right off the bat. I do understand about things being overwhelming sometimes. But I also remembering talking to you when I was in Korea and you were at your Dad's just taking time to smell the
flowers and I think that you still need to do that, I think that will help with your patience. Now for my pennies worth on your thinking/over-analyzing things that is one of the things that is special
about you. What I mean is there are many things that make up who and what (position on life) you are. There are parts of you that I do not always agree with, just as there are parts of me that you do not, but
that is what we are and the people that we are. Those are some of the beautiful things about you that I love. And yes there are other things that do not fit into this topic.
        One last thing about your sexiness. Honey I have seen you at your best and worst. I have seen you after getting ready to go out somewhere special and even after having two children. I believe at the bottom of
my being that you are just as beautiful having children as going to the Air Force Prom. You radiate beauty no matter what you are doing. And yes that is true first thing in the morning. :)
        OK I am going to run for now.
 
Call the Fire Department after the kisses that I am sending to you.
 
Love you
Brad

"Bravery never goes out of fashion." --William Makepeace Thackeray

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