She's Gone and I'm Sad

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

This is my first post, and to be honost, I don’t know how to express what I’m feeling, so please bear with me.

Today, I saw on CNN news that the aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis, was leaving for the Arabian Sea. Well, the Toadette is on that ship, and it actually left it’s home port on the 29th of October. The report said it was not supposed to leave until January. That’s true. In January it was supposed to go to another stateside base, for refitting, until November 2002. So much for that plan.

I’m proud that my daughter, (Danika) is serving in our armed forces. But Goddamn, I haven’t even had a chance to get to know her since she has grown up. Long story short, I was a single dad and raised her from the time she was two, until she was eight. Then, I had no communication with her until she came back to live with me when she was fourteen. She joined the Navy when she was seventeen.

Those missing years are my lament. All the couldda, shouldda, woulddas, don’t mean squat.

For the last four years she has been stationed on the east coast and I was only able to see her about once a year. In August, she was assigned to the Stennis, which was stationed in San Diego. That is close to AZ, and I was looking forward to seeing her more often. I wanted to be with her for this coming Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and for her B-Day in January.

Now, I don’t know when I will she her again, and that makes me very, very, sad.

2

Papa, we are all very proud of your daughter. She will be in our prayers along with the whole Stennis crew. Send her an email and let her know how you feel!

3

I can relate to what you’re going through. My father spent most of the Vietnam war at sea. She’s a very lucky young woman, though, because she obviously has a father who loves her very much.

4

DPW, I will pass your message on to my daughter and her crew as soon as I am able. I am still waiting for her to send me her e-mail address. I haven’t spoken with her since Oct. 26th, and not being able to make contact is part of my anxiety.

Playdeaux, Thank you for your kind words. Lost time can never be reclaimed, but I hope that the years (since Viet Nam) have been great for you and your father.

5

Toad, I can’t think of anything to say that doesn’t sound trite. Maybe if I had 5 or 6 pints of stout in me I’d get maudlin enough to try to communicate how I felt reading your post. :wink:

Godspeed to all the men & women we’re collectively missing.

6

Don’t know your situation, or why you missed so many years without contact with your daughter. But as always, hindsight is our teacher. Best of luck, and thanks to your daughter.