First and Last

My husband and I have been married for almost five years... about half of that one or the other of us has been somewhere other than 'home'.  So I've become accustomed to an empty bed. 

There are still rough nights - nights that sleep just doesn't seem to come no matter how hard you try.  From my experience, the first and the last night are always the worst.

That first night, you are getting used to the lack of someone else in the bed with you.  The comfort that comes with bumping into someone else in your sleep or having someone steal your covers throughout the night.  The second night starts the progression of things getting a little better until you get used to it a little more.

The last night is normally sleepless for me as well.  It doesn't seem to matter how long they are gone, they is always a 'to do' list before they get home, running through what you might be doing for dinner that night or even worrying about what you are going to wear.  Either way, instead of counting sheep - you are counting all the items you haven't yet done. 

There is, of course, the first night they are home as well.  The time where you can no longer sprawl out on the bed and burrito yourself in the covers.  That time where you have someone to cuddle up next to instead of wrapping your arms around his pillow that his smell has faded from over the time he was gone. Either way - all that matters at that point is he's home and once again your bed and your life is whole again.