EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE-my military 101

Disclaimer #1 This is a touchy subject and one I don't blog about usually because a. its not as fun as my kids and b.  I know there are such difference military experiences and lives out there: This is just a little taste of me experience being a military wife thus far

After almost 8 years of marriage to an active-duty Air Force guy, I guess you could call  me a bonafide military spouse.  I know, that title...It still makes me cringe a little. I remember when we first got married. It was "his job". Yes, we lived on base. I had to follow the base rules--Greg threatened me with my life ha-ha and constantly stressed the importance on following the rules because it reflects so greatly upon him. *eye roll*. But, it does and it could go back to his Commander if I act a fool. I'm a rule follower anyway so that part was pretty easy for me, but the base rules can be a bit to swallow. Especially for those not used to them. I remember trying to get a friend on base, to come for a play date at my house. It was a totally stressful experience for her and I felt sorry to put her through it. Lets just say, I don't think she came over again.

Sometimes I accidentally messed-up because I genuinely didn't know. Unlike a lot of my close friends I did NOT grow up in a military family. My dad was a hippy, people. My grandpa and uncle were Navy and we lived in a Navy town, but I was never really exposed to the base and was glad for that. Ha-ha. So I will never forget when we were staying in a Temporary Facility TLF ( Don't worry I'm still learning all the fancy acronyms)  waiting for housing.. I was sitting on the front porch, reading, and just happened to stand up and walk inside right when retreat was playing. Greg looked at me and laughed, then explained that you need to stand at attention, throughout the song. I still laugh at myself about that one. I just hope no one was watching ; )

After living overseas I got used to series of loud barbaric sirens ringing and all hours... "exercise, exercise, exercise".... "I repeat this is an exercise".. Retreat in the morning, retreat and night! Hey, at least if you don't have a watch you can kind of tell what time if is depending on which siren is going off. We lived on the very, very, border of the regular Japanese neighborhood. In fact, so close we could see right into their houses(they don't seem to use window coverings). They had there own set of sirens which were so extremely loud and eerie sounding. The messages all spoken in Japanese, of course. They would go off at all hours and there was no telling how long the messages would last. It was scary, especially if Greg was gone. I would think"Do we need to evacuate?" But, of course, everything is more dramatic when you are woken up to something like that.  Apparenlty those messages are to inform the community about local weather, traffic, and I'm sure emergencies too. I also was told once, they tell the school children when to go home if they are still out playing before dark. Nice, huh?

I have endured countless no-notice trips, planned trips, training, deployments, long nights(which seem to be more often then not), and its all just the tip of the iceberg. I know the ones who have gone before have endured so much more and that fellow military members now are sacrificing much more. I am thankful so that.  Military life will never be about convience, but it is about trust. Which doesn't come easy, at least not for me. Trust for me has had to be built, and will continue to have to be built. Because its just not normal, esspecially not in the "real world" to say, Yeah, my husband is gone AGAIN for the 4th night this week. He'll be gone 2 days  this time , not sure what time he is going to come back". It is a daily struggle for me.  I like to be connected to my spouse(shame on me ;). Having contact cut-off feels isolating and desperate. With much work and lots of long interrogations  errr.. I mean talks I have gotten so much better. And I hope I will continue to be.

I have heard people say"I'm just not cut out to be a military wife" and while I'm sure some of us handle it, or struggle less with it then others, everyone has some type of struggle.

Disclaimer #2: I don't care if your husband is gone one day or one thousand. How it feels to you is what matters. Lets be understanding and compassionate for those who struggle with the seperation, instead of playing the "mines be gone this x ammount of days"

It is not an easy road. How thankful am I that I have military and civilian friends that I can go to am say "this really stinks, again" and cry on their shoulder. I think God choose me to be a military wife because I am not a flexible person ever, and I do not deal with change well. Now, I have to. And I'm growning stronger. If I was allowed to stay in my comfort zone I wouldn't be forced to change. I'm happy for that.

 Disclaimer number 3. We military wives aren't all the same. I'm sure you have heard some "bad things". But really get to know one. You might find out there are some really cool chicks out there.

 I couldn't be prouder to have a hardworking, American loving, husband who would leave at a moments notice to keep us safe at night--Even if that means we are left behind.. for awhile.

Can you tell, I'm more patriotic then ever too?