Personal Narrative: My Trip To Panama
IS DAD COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS?
In August, 1989,my Tech-Sergeant -husband, Dennis had just received orders to Howard Air Force Base, Panama. we were excited about the move. Gadding about Central America visiting the Panama Canal, and learning Spanish were some of the adventures that we envisioned doing. That was until we discovered his tour was unaccompanied; meaning Dennis would be leaving us behind; our joy was immediately deflated. This was especially worrisome for our sons, Russell, 12 and Patrick, 10
The day arrived for Dennis to leave for Panama; we drove him to Dover Air Force Base, a two- hour trek from our home in Elkton, MD. As he boarded the bus to the flight line where he would take a C-130 transport to Panama, my heart sank. Not only was my best friend flying a world away into unknown danger, our children were suffering terribly. As we said our good byes, their eyes filled with tears. They kept telling their dad that they didn’t want him to go. He told them it was his job and he had to go but maybe he could come home for Christmas in a few months. After we all hugged him one last time, They stood there, eyes fixed on the blue Air Force bus until it disappeared from sight- then the tears came from all three of us. Our trip home was silent except for the hum of the car engine. Separation is …show more content…
never easy but It’s a fact of military life. In the months ahead, we came to understand just how difficult separation could be.
It was September, school started; I hoped it would distract our children just for a while- but it didn’t.
All hell brook loose. The Parent-Teacher meeting was negative. Russell was getting into mischief at school. He wouldn’t obey the teacher and talked back to her, something he’d never done before. Patrick wasn’t turning in his homework, he wouldn’t obey the teacher, he wasn’t paying attention in class. They both rebelled. Homework was another struggle. They lollygagged with their homework, and we all struggled because I was unable to help them with their math homework. I always stunk at math. Dennis a math major easily helped them with their
work.
Other issues occurred in those first four months: our car decided to go into mechanical hell, and, a neighbor who had been cordial suddenly turned sour, and someone tried to break into our home on two separate occasions. After the first attempted break in, my only concern was for the boys’ safety. I had to be strong for our children, but being the soul parent, was a heavy load for me to carry alone. Many nights I would go into our basement and cry my eyes out due to loneliness, frustration, and fear.
Then there were the chores. the yard work and all of the other things that Dennis did that we took for granted. I couldn’t get the lawnmower started, the chimney needed cleaning , and the car kept going in and out of mechanical hell. Our only relief was the weekly phone calls to Dennis when we could all talk and share what was happening while separated a world away.
The one question that came up in each phone conversation was, “Dad, are you coming home for Christmas?” He would tell them that he didn’t know. Not wanting to disappoint them if he couldn’t. The conflict in Panama was heating up and “Operation Just Cause” was looming on the horizon. Daily, the boys would ask me, “Is Dad coming home for Christmas?” My reply was standard- “I don’t know, we have to wait and see.” The reaction was always the same, “Aw, mom, that’s what you always say.” But it was true I had no idea if we’d see him at Christmas or not. It would be cruel to lead them to believe otherwise.
Just before Thanksgiving, Dennis called with great news, he would be home for Christmas! if, and this is a big if,the situation in Panama didn’t heat up.He didn’t want me to share with the boys, because of the uncertainty.
Dennis called me again on the 16th of December to tell me that he would be leaving Panama around 11pm on the 18th and should be home in the evening of the 19th. His orders were approved, his bags packed, and he was ready to come home to us. What a Christmas present this would be for us! He still asked me to keep the surprise from the boys, because until he left the country of Panama, his orders were subject to cancellation.
Dennis called again on the 18th to say he was leaving in an hour on a C-130 transport bound for Pope Air Force Base in South Carolina. He would catch a bus from there and arrive at the bus terminal in New Castle, Delaware that evening. His best estimate was around 7 pm eastern time. My heart soared-- He would be home today! Christmas was less than a week away. Patrick said, “Mom, I’ve been asking God to bring dad home for Christmas. I know He will. “Russell said, “I just know dad is coming home for Christmas. He has to. We all have to be together for Christmas, we just have to!”
The bus terminal at New Castle had a huge gift shop. I decided that I would use Christmas shopping as a guise and we would make the three hour drive to New Castle. Only one problem, the boys didn’t want to go. There was plenty of grumbling about why I had to go so far for Christmas presents when there stores close by. I bribed them with the promise of pizza, and after that, off we went. It was dark when we arrived. The building was large and had been recently renovated it looked inviting and not like a typical bus station. As we pulled in from the highway, I saw him immediately in the gift shop .The handsome face that I’d grown to love and missed so much these last months. Standing tall and crisp in his dress-blue uniform- he was a sight to behold. I was aiming for the only parking place left-directly in front of the window to the gift shop and hoping to get the car to a complete stop before the boys saw him. He was back a bit from the window and the lighting wasn’t bright, but he was there in plane site, none the less.
I was in the parking spot , just about to apply the break when they saw him. Russell said to his brother, “Pat, that man looks like dad! IT IS DAD!”
They flung open the car doors on our station wagon and were gone in through the double doors. Like a stampeding herd, I watched as they rushed up to their dad grasping him around the middle, and then jumping up and down squealing. Everyone in the gift shop turned to see what the commotion was about. As He bent down and they began hugging his neck and kissing him the customers looked on with smiles. It was beautiful to watch.
We had the best Christmas that year because our family received the best present ever—Dad came home for Christmas.
In August, 1989,my Tech-Sergeant -husband, Dennis had just received orders to Howard Air Force Base, Panama. we were excited about the move. Gadding about Central America visiting the Panama Canal, and learning Spanish were some of the adventures that we envisioned doing. That was until we discovered his tour was unaccompanied; meaning Dennis would be leaving us behind; our joy was immediately deflated. This was especially worrisome for our sons, Russell, 12 and Patrick, 10
The day arrived for Dennis to leave for Panama; we drove him to Dover Air Force Base, a two- hour trek from our home in Elkton, MD. As he boarded the bus to the flight line where he would take a C-130 transport to Panama, my heart sank. Not only was my best friend flying a world away into unknown danger, our children were suffering terribly. As we said our good byes, their eyes filled with tears. They kept telling their dad that they didn’t want him to go. He told them it was his job and he had to go but maybe he could come home for Christmas in a few months. After we all hugged him one last time, They stood there, eyes fixed on the blue Air Force bus until it disappeared from sight- then the tears came from all three of us. Our trip home was silent except for the hum of the car engine. Separation is …show more content…
never easy but It’s a fact of military life. In the months ahead, we came to understand just how difficult separation could be.
It was September, school started; I hoped it would distract our children just for a while- but it didn’t.
All hell brook loose. The Parent-Teacher meeting was negative. Russell was getting into mischief at school. He wouldn’t obey the teacher and talked back to her, something he’d never done before. Patrick wasn’t turning in his homework, he wouldn’t obey the teacher, he wasn’t paying attention in class. They both rebelled. Homework was another struggle. They lollygagged with their homework, and we all struggled because I was unable to help them with their math homework. I always stunk at math. Dennis a math major easily helped them with their
work.
Other issues occurred in those first four months: our car decided to go into mechanical hell, and, a neighbor who had been cordial suddenly turned sour, and someone tried to break into our home on two separate occasions. After the first attempted break in, my only concern was for the boys’ safety. I had to be strong for our children, but being the soul parent, was a heavy load for me to carry alone. Many nights I would go into our basement and cry my eyes out due to loneliness, frustration, and fear.
Then there were the chores. the yard work and all of the other things that Dennis did that we took for granted. I couldn’t get the lawnmower started, the chimney needed cleaning , and the car kept going in and out of mechanical hell. Our only relief was the weekly phone calls to Dennis when we could all talk and share what was happening while separated a world away.
The one question that came up in each phone conversation was, “Dad, are you coming home for Christmas?” He would tell them that he didn’t know. Not wanting to disappoint them if he couldn’t. The conflict in Panama was heating up and “Operation Just Cause” was looming on the horizon. Daily, the boys would ask me, “Is Dad coming home for Christmas?” My reply was standard- “I don’t know, we have to wait and see.” The reaction was always the same, “Aw, mom, that’s what you always say.” But it was true I had no idea if we’d see him at Christmas or not. It would be cruel to lead them to believe otherwise.
Just before Thanksgiving, Dennis called with great news, he would be home for Christmas! if, and this is a big if,the situation in Panama didn’t heat up.He didn’t want me to share with the boys, because of the uncertainty.
Dennis called me again on the 16th of December to tell me that he would be leaving Panama around 11pm on the 18th and should be home in the evening of the 19th. His orders were approved, his bags packed, and he was ready to come home to us. What a Christmas present this would be for us! He still asked me to keep the surprise from the boys, because until he left the country of Panama, his orders were subject to cancellation.
Dennis called again on the 18th to say he was leaving in an hour on a C-130 transport bound for Pope Air Force Base in South Carolina. He would catch a bus from there and arrive at the bus terminal in New Castle, Delaware that evening. His best estimate was around 7 pm eastern time. My heart soared-- He would be home today! Christmas was less than a week away. Patrick said, “Mom, I’ve been asking God to bring dad home for Christmas. I know He will. “Russell said, “I just know dad is coming home for Christmas. He has to. We all have to be together for Christmas, we just have to!”
The bus terminal at New Castle had a huge gift shop. I decided that I would use Christmas shopping as a guise and we would make the three hour drive to New Castle. Only one problem, the boys didn’t want to go. There was plenty of grumbling about why I had to go so far for Christmas presents when there stores close by. I bribed them with the promise of pizza, and after that, off we went. It was dark when we arrived. The building was large and had been recently renovated it looked inviting and not like a typical bus station. As we pulled in from the highway, I saw him immediately in the gift shop .The handsome face that I’d grown to love and missed so much these last months. Standing tall and crisp in his dress-blue uniform- he was a sight to behold. I was aiming for the only parking place left-directly in front of the window to the gift shop and hoping to get the car to a complete stop before the boys saw him. He was back a bit from the window and the lighting wasn’t bright, but he was there in plane site, none the less.
I was in the parking spot , just about to apply the break when they saw him. Russell said to his brother, “Pat, that man looks like dad! IT IS DAD!”
They flung open the car doors on our station wagon and were gone in through the double doors. Like a stampeding herd, I watched as they rushed up to their dad grasping him around the middle, and then jumping up and down squealing. Everyone in the gift shop turned to see what the commotion was about. As He bent down and they began hugging his neck and kissing him the customers looked on with smiles. It was beautiful to watch.
We had the best Christmas that year because our family received the best present ever—Dad came home for Christmas.