One Brief Moment

I was led to believe that The Doctor had left, and that was that until September or October. Apparently I was misinformed.

The Doctor learned a bunch of new skills. She can now claim to know how to ride in a humvee, (an humvee?) how to spot IEDs and how to throw a grenade. She's really bad at that last one, by the way, which is why SHE IS NEVER ALLOWED TO DO THAT IN HER ENTIRE LIFE. I have informed The Doctor that if she would like to retain all of her toes, she should give the grenade to the next person. I believe she agreed. That helps me sleep.

But the training ended and the plane for parts unknown didn't leave for a week. Which gave her a weekend to do with as she pleased, as long as whatever she pleased also pleased the military. Coming home for a visit did not displease the military.

My daughter was thrilled to hear this news, and even seemed to digest that Mommy wasn't going to stay that long. Noah was also very happy, and expressed himself by biting and drooling on his sister.

For one weekend, my family was together again. It was right.

Then it was over. The Doctor was shipping out for parts unknown. Her waypoints on the journey there almost certainly become increasingly distant and inhospitable as she goes. The kids handled her departure quite well, considering. They said goodbye at the gate and that was that.

I'm the sad one.