not a whole month

I hope it does not become a whole month before I hear from Ethan again. I know this is how it is. I know this is part of the package. This is our last deployment. I have been through it many times before. You'd think it would get easier and I would get used to it. But it doesn't. There is nothing that can replace that interaction between us.
Its been 3 weeks since I have gotten an email from him. I know they are in a place where they can't get emails out. He'd call me if he could, but that is of course never an option in the world of submarines. The "Silent Service" is what it is called. This of course means there is little to no communication. Any dates about boat movement are strictly prohibited from being talked about in anyway.
Ethan often asks himself why he chose this "Silent Service" as it is so called. It is a life with high amounts of stress and little reward. He does not go to great places around the world. He's seen Hawaii from the periscope, that's "the exciting places" the Navy has taken him to. Sitting in a steel tube for months must be miserable, and I sometimes feel guilty for complaining about missing him. But if I didn't miss him that would be something to worry about!
I know he's miserable down there though. He's probably cold when he sleeps (when he actually gets sleep). He's bored out of his mind I am sure, as they wait for an eternity that if it took out the sub, well we'd all be gone too! And the food... it could be compared to eating like a pet down there. Its not the same food everyday of the week, but each day of the week they are served the same thing. Saturday is apparently pizza night... how exciting, right?
Oh haha, speaking of exciting by the way. The sub took on water. This means that sea water leaked into the sub because a hatch was not tightly closed. The guys apparently think this was exciting because they are so bored. I just think its worrisome. Great, let's think about my husband's sub filling with water and sinking- exciting, right? Oh the life of a submariner. He's bored and missing me, and I am worried and missing him.
So I hope it doesn't become a whole month before I get another email. I have gone a month in deployments past, but its a long time. I hope I hear from him to know he's okay and just to read an "i love you" from him. I know he loves me, but there's nothing like seeing it written. Maybe if I am very lucky I will get an old fashioned hand written letter if they do a mail drop back to us! THAT is the best thing I can get when he's deployed!