Things I need you to know.

I watched a movie with my husband today. Its title is The Hurt Locker. As a military wife, it really struck home for me. Even though my husband is not deploying with the rest of his friends, it impacted me more than I thought it would when I sat down to watch it. It made me think of all of those men and women who risk their lives for our country everyday. They put their lives on the line for us everyday. Many of them have families here in the states that worry, pray and hope for them. I am one of those people. Since marrying a man in the army I have made irreplaceable friends who serve our country. These men are getting ready to deploy soon, and I am just now starting to confront the fear that I have. The fear that I will lose one of these friends. I fear that I may never get to laugh with these men I have become close to. In realizing this fear that I have pushed to the back of my mind for the past few months, I have realized just how valuable a life is. Not just for those who serve in our military, but every single living person. Life is so fragile. In just an instant, it can be taken away from you. One second you are a living breathing person, and the next you could be a statistic, a body, or just a memory. Even as I sit here on my porch I think about every person who has walked in and out my life and how they have helped shape who I am, how I think, how I act. It blows my mind to think, “What if I had never met this person? Who would I be today without them?” I started to realize just how precious you are to me. You. Whoever you are that is reading this right now. Whether you are a family member, a close friend or someone I have only met once or twice, I want... no NEED you to know that I love you. Without you, I would never be who I am today. No matter who you are or where you are you are important to me. I have learned in this short life I have lived the most important thing is to love, and be loved in return. I want you to know that I am always here. I know that people make this promise all the time, and most of the time half heartedly, but you need to know that I mean it with everything I am. No matter what time of day, what for, or where you are, I am always there for you. No matter what we have been through together, how well I know you, or how long I have known you. I am here. I can’t even begin to tell you how much you mean to me.

I am not a perfect person, but I realized today how short life is. We only get one shot at this life, and I can’t ignore this feeling in my soul that you need to know this. You need to know that I love and care about you.

With all the love in my heart,

Cassie