Keeping Him Guessing

I learned from TB that when they go on missions, they sleep on the ground. Unfortunately, he has no sleeping bag to keep him warm because he still has not received his personal belongings that were packed for him while he was on leave. Thankfully, two of the boxes he received were the ones with his Army issue winter jacket and pants that I sent in October. He uses them and I know they are warm, but a sleeping bag would be that much better. He doesn’t know I sent a below 0˚ sleeping bag a few weeks ago. I hope it arrives soon. I love surprising him and I know it will make him very happy. I added a wool scarf that I crocheted to the box. It will be a nice, warm, welcome surprise.
Part of getting through a deployment from this side is providing support. When TB hints at something he would like to have, it’s a huge relief. It gives me something to focus on and makes me feel useful. Sometimes I ask TB what he needs and his response is, “You do so much already.” So, last week when he told me “box #43 was the best ever!” I was thrilled. Two boxes similar to #43 are now on the way to Afghanistan. Of course, the day after I mailed them, he said, “I sure would love more of that chai latte." Oh my! I think it was the only thing in box #43 that I didn’t send. Kind of funny, though. I felt like telling him he planned it that way, just so I would send more packages, but I know that would make him feel guilty. I’ll send another box on Monday with the special chai that he loves. As long as it takes mail to reach him, all the boxes will probably arrive at the same time anyway.

I used to tell TB when I sent a box and what was in it. I've stopped doing that because he loves the surprise of getting something he had no clue was coming. He knows I'm going to send things, but I realized a month or so ago that telling him everything ahead of time takes away some of the excitement of the infrequent mail deliveries.