Wow, the holiday season has pretty much come and almost past by now and to be honest, it has been surprisingly easy to be away from my family—honestly, I contribute most of this to the fact that I’ve been in Asia where the weather is NOTHING like it is back home during the months of November and December.
This month I have heard lots of talk going around my squad about what it must feel like to be “the other half” back home. Many people speculate, others try to imagine, and some even say what they think it would be like. But to be honest (and I’m not trying to dis my squad-mates) they don’t understand it, nor will they be able to; however, two years ago I was “the other half” back home and oh man, guys (squad-mates) it is harder than you even begin to comprehend.
I never butted into those conversations I had overheard because I didn’t know what to say, nor did I want to give them an idea of a larger burden than we all already carry knowing that we are not home with our loved ones, but I remembered three blog posts/letters to my sister that I wrote while my sister was gone on the Race and I want to share them with everyone here.
So squad-mates, here is a glimpse into what a loved one back home thinks during the holiday season while we are away.
Thursday, November 26, 2015 – Thanksgiving Day
Joy,
It is Thanksgiving morning and I’m sitting in bed with Apollo, bawling my eyes out because you’re not here. November 1st, Mom’s birthday, always marked the beginning of holiday season for our family, and it’s so weird without you. Honestly, every day is a struggle without you. I highly doubt I will show you this until the end of the trip, it will only make it worse for you. And besides, you already know how much I miss you–it’s how much you miss me.
All in all, there are so many things swirling around my head that I want to say to you that I don’t even know where to begin. So I’m just going to end it here for the day. But I feel like this is going to turn into less of letters and more of snippits of stuff I want to tell you about. Either way, just never forget I love you, okay?
-Bethany
Jeremiah 32: 36-41
41″I will find JOY doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.”
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
There is so much more I want to say, but I don’t even know where to begin.
Hey, I miss you. I hope everything is going alright, exams are finally over now and it’s odd being without you AND school. I hope all is well and that you’re having fun. I’d love to see a final picture of your new tat. Mom misses you incredibly and sometimes it’s hard to handle her especially when she sees everyone else posting stuff and she doesn’t hear from you… I try to keep her calm and remind her it’s good that we haven’t heard from you because you are out enjoying yourself and thriving, but she only half believes me. Jonny is doing alright, just trying to get through school and him and Savannah are having small relationship problems (comes with the age/maturity level) but I think they are gonna be alright overall. And dad is good 🙂 he’s been helping me with a lot of car stuff lately and had a date last night, idk how it went but I’ll let you know. I actually bought two cars this week… a 1999 Buick regal with only 69k miles on it and a supercharged v6 engine for $2800 from Larry king, and then grandmas old car I bought from David loy for $900 in way better condition than he got from grandma. Either way, that’s what’s new here. Not a whole lot but still, we love you to pieces and I hope I can talk to you soon. Love, Bethany
Saturday, December 26, 2015
F***
I f****** miss you.
More than normal, d***.
