KRISTINE RIVERS: Our First Valentine’s Day Together…Sort Of

By ABC-7 Executive Producer Kristine Rivers

I did not expect to be nearly 8,000 miles away from my husband on our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, but such is the military life. You never make long term plans and you never buy plane tickets without travel insurance, because you just never know where you or your spouse will be. In other words you must be very flexible.

Even though I will be without my love on honey’s day, I am still thankful. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I think that’s true. I am so thankful for the love we have, which is so strong I can feel it from half a world away. In fact, while I was writing this, I got a dozen roses delivered. He definitely earns extra points for ordering flowers from Iraq. For those of you who are lucky enough to spend the day with your spouse, hug them tight, kiss their face and appreciate what you have.

For those of us who aren’t as lucky, we will write letters, send care packages and hope for a phone call or e-mail. If you want to send a message over the internet to a loved one stationed overseas, you can do that by clicking on the ‘Send a Message of Support’ link at the top of KVIA’S Troop Support page. There you can post messages, take part in discussion boards and upload photos and videos. It is a great tool for you to show support and to share photos with your loved ones.

Deployments, as I am learning, are hard, draining and stressful. There are many military spouses who have been through multiple deployments and who know much more about separation than I, but I think the majority of us will agree, if I could do it all over again I would. Chris is worth it. Besides, I am a strong woman, I have no problem buying myself chocolates…and eating the whole box by myself!

Happy Valentine’s Day to the heroes serving our country and to their loved ones, the heroes on the home front.