I WAS at Fort Drum in upstate New York last year when it really hit me. I don’t know if it was because I was getting ready to go to war and was nervous, or because I watched the sun rise every morning at first formation, and that always reminded me of Kathryn. Either way, all I knew for certain was that I was still in love with her, and I had to get her back into my life.

For a long time I had this crazy idea that I could change the world if I just worked hard enough. The downside of having that idea is that it took me away from home for long periods of time.

I dated Kathryn while I volunteered on the fire-and-rescue department, while I traveled the country for seven months with AmeriCorps, and while I was away for five months at basic training.

Kathryn was always at home waiting for me. All told I was away for an entire year of the two and a half years we dated.