A letter to my husband

I'm joining Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Lisa has created a wonderful community where many others come together and write for five minutes on a prompt she provides. It's a beautiful thing. Today's prompt is: "WRITE."

Today's post is an old Five Minute Friday post written when the prompt word was, "LETTER." Please pardon me for reusing. I'm limiting my writing as I focus on time with my family before my husband deploys. When I saw what today's prompt word was this post seemed appropriate to share again since I will soon begin writing letters to my husband again.

My love,

I remember clearly the day when the boys and I said good-bye to you in the parking lot of the hotel you would depart from the following morning. Our eyes were filled with tears. Letting go of you to send you on your way to become a soldier was a mixture of excitement for you and sadness for us. The months we would spend apart would be hard.

The first thing I did that evening after saying good-bye was write my first letter to you.

"Dear, I just returned home from saying our good-byes. We cried for a bit longer on the ride home and then one of the boys made a comment to make us laugh. I miss you already but I'm incredibly proud of you."

Here my love for writing began. Here my love for a written letter began.

I waited patiently for you to write me. When the first letter arrived my heart leaped with joy. Holding a piece of paper you had touched brought you a little closer to home.

"Dear Beth, I have started writing this letter at least five times. I really don't know what to say other than I miss you and I love you. I will hold on to your last words to me with every ounce of strength I have."

Our mailman quickly became my favorite person as new letters written by you were delivered.

Then it became time to send our oldest son off to become a sailor. Could I survive another good-bye? Yes, I could because I had learned the secret to survival: WRITE!

Letters to both of you were written, sealed and mailed daily. Every day (except for Sunday of course) I would be filled with hopes of opening the mailbox to a letter from one of you. I remember the day I received a letter from our son. He had written only four words, "I love you, Mom." Those four words were enough.

I'm filled with wonderful memories of watching you both become a soldier and sailor. My greatest memories will always be of the joy found in every letter written and every letter received.

As we prepare to send you on your way to do the very thing you set out to do, my heart aches over saying good-bye again but I will wait patiently for you to write me. Oh how I will be ready to write to you.

My love, thank you for what I consider precious treasures: letters of love written by you.

Love, Me