Deployment Patience

When we get close to a homecoming everyone in our family begins the nervous texting, e-mailing and phone calling that begins something like this:  "Have you heard from him?"  "He hasn't been on-line lately, does that mean he's traveling?" "I shouldn't send a box should I, it's getting close?"  We never have a date, we've just become very good at counting and understanding the cycles.
Now that there's someone special in his life, I don't have quite the privilege that I once had as the receiver of the Hearts Apart e-mails that give families the head's up that our loved one is coming home soonish. I don't mind this.  She is also a continuous deployer.  They understand each other.  In other words, she's low maintenance and every mother wishes a low maintenance female in their son's life.  She has received my approval, something that I know is very important to my son.  I do admit that I miss being the main point of contact.  If I act pathetic enough, and she's in the states, she'll even give me information.  I say this with a smile on my face.  Having someone special waiting for my son gives me a sense of peace.  My peace of mind will reach it's peak only after I hear the words "Hey mom....................I"m in the states, God I love my shower".