It all began with one simple decision that would change a life forever. A commitment that could never be took away, a life style that would be hard to break and a pride that would be there forever. The last day at home with family and friends was a day to cherish forever. You would hold onto that moment forever in your mind, until the day came when you would get to see them again. It has come down to the last few minutes that you have with your wife, children, mother, father, and everyone you cherish. Eyes are filling with tears as you turn and walk off, but their hearts are screaming with pride, love, and fear for you. You turn around to take one last mental picture in your head, one to keep forever, one that cannot be taking away or lost. They all watch with heavy hearts, until they can no longer see that man anymore. That is all they know for now, until they get that one five minute phone call, if they even get it. They might receive a letter in the mail that was dated two weeks ago. Every day while you are gone they continue on with their daily life. Monday it's going to the grocery store. Wednesday its football practice, but no matter what day it is that man is on their mind every minute. The wives will go to the park on Thursday to let the kids play together, trying to keep their lives as normal as possible. Every meal there is the one empty chair that no one sits in cause it was "Daddy's" chair. At night children are sleeping with their mothers to get some type of comfort. All with the vision of a man all alone with only that one mental picture in his mind. Everyday spouses and children are running to the mail, just the same as the man is, waiting just to see if there is that one letter to let everyone know that all is ok. Birthdays come and go, maybe there will be a phone call. The holidays are soon approaching, with parties for the families left behind to fill the spaces of their loved one that is gone.
