This is blog post is about my wife, Codie Sanchez.
Before my last deployment, I told her something that might surprise you:
I know we’ve been dating and having a great time, but I don’t want you to worry about me. If you want to live a separate life while I’m gone, I get it. We’ll reconnect when I’m back.
She looked at me like I was crazy and said:
What the hell is wrong with you? We’re doing this.
And she went through my fifth deployment. We talked every night when we could. We sent letters, packages, notes. We were deeply involved even from afar, and in some ways, we got to re-introduce ourselves to each other. It was beautiful, and I give her so much credit for that. She woke up in the middle of the night. Early mornings. Never forgot to reach out.
It meant everything to me. I could focus, I knew I had someone I wanted to build a life with waiting at home.
We talk often of risk, but really the biggest risk you’ll take is who you choose to spend your life with. And I was absolutely certain she was that person for me.
She believed in me when it would have been easier to walk away.
P.S. I still spend most days trying to keep up with her. Forever grateful for that.