THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509060438
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MY TURN
SOURCE: MARY MAHONEY
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
It is often said that the power of positive thinking helps people achieve goals, or make it through difficult situations. This month I will not have to use that technique. Positive things are assured to be happening in the Mahoney household now that September has arrived.
My daughter will be entering her sophomore year of high school. No more calls at work from her with conversations dealing only with the topic of boredom. She's been bored because her dad is on a Mediterranean cruise and I, her mom, never want to do anything fun. Chivon spends many hours wishing that her dad was home to take her to Busch Gardens, the mall and all the other places that they like and I don't. With school starting and her father's return in a couple of weeks, Chivon will have more than enough to do to fill up her time.
The other wonderful event this month will be the return of my husband, Bill, from his ``Med'' cruise aboard the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge. I have waited - as have countless other military spouses and family members - six long months for this homecoming.
We are very fortunate. This cruise has been very uneventful. Bill will be pleased I have only a handful of things on the ``honey-do'' list. Nothing too exhausting: remodel the bathroom, drop your daughter off at the library, fix the kitchen door that is falling off its hinges, pick up your daughter from the library, tune-ups for both vehicles, take your daughter to her doctor's appointment, fill in the hole in the back yard where the pool used to be and pick up your daughter from cheerleading practice.
I am anxious for my sailor to return. Although this was his sixth or seventh Med deployment, I just never seem to realize how much Bill does to aid in the daily running of the household until he is gone.
The biggest problem I had in dealing with this cruise was the fact that no matter how busy I kept myself, the time just crept by ever so slowly. This is to be my sailor's final cruise. I almost wish I had not known that prior to his leaving. So many feelings came back to me, not unlike those when my sailor embarked on his very first Med cruise back in 1981. The anticipation of his return was on my mind moments after I dropped him off at the ship back in March.
I have spent countless minutes and hours thinking that this is it. Never again will I have to be separated from my husband for such a long period. I am ready to greet him on the pier, now more so than ever because I know that this is the end to one chapter in his military career.
I am certain that even after the first disagreement a few weeks after his return, this is one time I will not ask him when he is going back out to sea. Our lives for many years have been planned around when he is coming and going. We found our way to cope with separations and did what we had to do. We have made our sacrifice of long separations for the Navy and were proud to do it. With a very big smile on my face I can say that I am glad the seagoing days will soon be over.
Soon my best friend, my husband, will be returning to me safe and healthy. In days that only number into the teens the man I love will once again be waking me up at O'dark-thirty so that we can start our day together with a cup of coffee. I will admit that I am equally excited about the prospect of having my dog groomer, mechanic, maintenance man, lawn and garden guy and cook once again available to me at a moment's notice.
Unlike our first Med cruise, I will have no problem in handing over many of the day-to-day responsibilities that go into running a home. I may, however, have some difficulty handing over the remote. by CNB