Everyone keeps posting on Facebook/Tumblr how amazing it is to be going home to visit with their families for a few months, as schools break for the summer and finally relinquish their holds on the students. I see it all the time for every major holiday, and sometimes even randomly. People go home, take a million pictures and update their statues every ten seconds on how wonderful it is to be home, to be back with their loved ones and friends.
I am so, amazingly, incredibly jealous of this.
I’ve lived away from home for awhile now, about 3000 miles away. The second I turned eighteen and was old enough to go, I fucking went. No regrets, not a single one. Joining the Army was an amazing decision, and as much as I complain about it, I am so happy I did it. But because I’m in the Army, it’s not as easy for me to go home as it is for my friends who are in college, and have a scheduled three month break every year to return there. I usually only get two weeks around Christmas, and there’s nobody back home that has the means to pay for me to get home. All of that is on me. So of course I’m a little envious, as childish as that may sound, when all I see when I get on Facebook is a barrage of “I’m finally home!” or “Only one more day till I’m home!” or “My mom made me cupcakes in honor of my return!” posts. I know these kids must have friends in high places to be able to go home whenever they want, when they have no job and are drowning in debt. With a husband, bills, and a company that hates me for my injury, getting any leave approved will be an uphill battle, not to mention getting the money for us to even go.
Sometimes, I just want a break, like everyone else. Or I at least don’t want people to throw it in my face. I know that nobody means to, and re-reading this it sounds like I’m a big baby. But still, I sacrifice alot for this job. I love my family just as much as the next person, and I want to see them too, regardless if I wear a uniform to work or not.
