[Editor's Note: Jennifer Huntsman is a US Army Reserve Signal Captain stationed at MacDill Air Force Base with Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). She is currently deployed in Qatar. Jenny will be writing for The Daily Loaf about life in the military.]
The happiest and most anticipated moment during a deployment, except when you out-process to go home, is when you get mail. Everyone wants a letter, a post card, or a package showing that they are loved by somebody. Anything from anyone is great! I am very blessed to receive regular mail from my boyfriend, my friends from college, my family, and the Pontotoc Chapter DAR. Every day I hold my breath for a package or a letter. We all do; our little office stares at our mail guy when he comes back from the mail room. I glare at those who receive packages when I don't. I shouldn't act like such a brat; not everyone gets mail.
During my deployment I have a lot of time to reflect on my life and my relationships.
This article appears in Mar 4-10, 2009.