Care Package #43: The Last Box

Brian had suggested that I stop sending boxes the first week of October, since he would be away from his base for a good part of the month and then heading home. But we all know that I don't listen so well sometimes! I figured that even if this last box took 10 to 12 days to arrive, it should still be there a few days before he had to leave. And the 42nd care package, though it did have some yummy graham crackers, did not seem to have the sense of finality that I really needed. It felt as incomplete as ending a sentence with a preposition (you English majors out there can relate, right?).

I've thoroughly enjoyed baking and sending these boxes, and I wanted the last box to really feel like it was an end to this process. But there were a few logistics to consider. First, the box may be sitting around base for a few days before Brian received it, so I didn't think that a home baked treat would fare well. Also, if it arrived very close to his departure, I didn't want it to be go to waste if he couldn't pack it up and bring it with him.

As I was pondering all this, I remembered that there was a distinct possibility for delays during the flight. Being a traveler myself, I have an idea of how tedious this can be (though, in all fairness, I have never been stuck in a foreign airport for 7 days straight). So I decided to put together a little travel pack of snacks and candies that he (hopefully) could fit in his bags and nibble on during the trip home.

Of course, being the kind of person who tends to go overboard, I didn't just make one travel bag. Nope, I made six. I figured that he'll be traveling with a bunch of other soldiers and someone (or five someones to be exact) would probably enjoy the goodies as well.

It's so exciting to think that in just about a week Brian will really be back in Georgia! After nearly 13 months of care packages, letters, emails and chats, it will be so wonderful to spoil him in person.