Every Navy wife I know has it printed somewhere in her house.

On a refrigerator magnet. On a picture frame. On a Pinterest board.

Me? It’s saved as my laptop background. It’s a photo of a diving submarine with the words, “Sometimes I blow kisses to the bottom of the ocean.”

It’s trite, I know. But every submariner’s wife loves it, especially for moments like this past New Year’s Eve.

I was visiting family, so I was tucked into bed in giant sweatpants by 10:30 p.m.. My 2-year-old was snoozing beside me, a PBS special was playing on my iPad. I heard a rush of fireworks outside the window and thought, “Must be midnight.”  And then, without more than a second’s hesitation, whispered, “Happy New Year, babe.”

It wasn’t as hard or as sad as Christmas. Or my birthday or even Thanksgiving. Probably because I’ve outgrown New Year’s Eve debauchery, as I’m sure my sweats suggest.

And while it’s still sad to not have my sailor to kiss at midnight - to know he’s somewhere, underwater standing a watch like it’s any other day – it’s also okay because, for us, 2014 is exciting. 

2014 is going to be a good year, at least as far as this Navy family is concerned.  Less deployment time. More holidays and important dates at home. A good chance he’ll be here for some birthday parties and vacations.

For us, as the New Year came around the bend, it brought with it the homestretch. It means that the mess and separation and crazy workload that 2013 brought in, is almost over.

I can miss another handful of days off, federal holidays and even a New Year’s kiss, if it means 2014 will lighten the load a little bit.

Finally, the real holiday I have been waiting for is on the horizon.

Since the day after Christmas, my toddler has been asking, “Is Daddy coming yet?  Is he getting off that boat yet?” While it’s not close enough on the calendar for her to understand – the poor thing  is still confused by the words “submarines” and “tangerines” and frequently asks me to peel her the vessel her father is aboard for an afternoon snack – it is close enough for me to start to daydream.

It is close enough to plan the kitchen DIY-project I’m envisioning we do together. To plan our baby’s first birthday, knowing I won’t have to grill the hamburgers and bake the smash cake. To realize we might stand a shot of enjoying a family beach trip. Maybe, we can even go camping.

My kids may not be there yet. They are still used to Daddy being gone and Mommy juggling all the balls, letting some drop all too frequently . But, I am long gone. I have moved on to 2014 and I have permission to dream again.

So while my kisses may still be aimed toward the ocean, somewhere out there, the end is in sight. I can’t wait to see what this new beginning brings.