There are certain moments in life that are always documented. Among these are the first smile, first tooth, first step and other momentous occasions that symbolize a child is growing up. Sometimes a deployed parent is unable to share in those occasions due to the distance and of course timing. My oldest is starting preschool momentarily and I am not there to drop him off or get him ready in the morning. I am separated by half the world from him. I am not able to be there to give him a hug or hold his hand as we'd walk into the classroom together: all those dreams I had as a parent. I was able to do the second best thing: call him right before he went inside. He is, of course, like his independent mother. I turned to my mother on the first day of kindergarten and told her "you can leave now" before ever reaching the inside of the classroom. On the phone after talking only three minutes, he tells me, "Mommy, I can't talk, I have to go to preschool. Bye." On my end I can hear the calling card asking if I want to place another call and instead of being saddened by the loss of a conversation, I just have to laugh and think he is my kid.
There are so many stories about technology bridging the gap between service members and their loved ones, but that bridge is only as good as the technology in the area. Our technology is a struggle at times. The work phones have a 30 second delay. It makes for comical conversations at times, but frustration when attempting to make a serious contact and talk about patient care issues. I have learned to just ask commanders to come see me or walking to them instead of trying to communicate by phone. The days of MASH communication still exists when you have to call one number to get an operator in the states, they transfer you to another number, and finally, you may be able to call the final destination. It has felt like "Hey Sparky... I need you to patch me through to Hoboken. He's got Tokyo... He's got Hawaii.... He's got San Francisco...." It is almost 60 years later, and our technology has not changed all that much. When it does work, it is so nice to have a little moment that allows me to be that much closer to the current process. It allows a little boy to know that even though "Mommy's at work" she still thinks about and loves her little boys just that much more. Even a three minute phone call for an excited three year old just before his first day is well worth the struggle of calling!
