What I've Learned So Far

One year ago, Michael decided to join the Air Force.  We were scared and excited and trying very hard not to be naive and uninformed.  We (meaning me) researched everything we could in relation to the military so we wouldn't make this decision blind.

Fast forward a year, and it's amazing just how much our lives have changed.  We've lived through a six month separation, moved 600+ miles away from home...not to mention Michael has this cool new thing called a career.

We've both learned a lot this past year--especially about the military.  Some of it makes me laugh.  Some of it makes me want to cry.  And others just plain confuse me.  I thought I'd share a few things I've learned so far.

1.  The military likes to make things difficult.  Like not calling anything by what civilians would call it.  The Commissary?  Oh, that's the grocery store.  PCSing?  You'd call that moving.  How about third shift or what some affectionately call grave yard shift?  Yeah, that needs a new name too--Mid shift.  And job training that's done at a different base than the one you're stationed at?  That's got my favorite name of all--TDY (temporary duty yonder).

2.  The Commissary is closed on Mondays.  Strange freaking day to close a grocery store, in my oh so humble opinion.  Plus, you're suppose to tip the Baggers because apparently they don't make any money otherwise.  Um, I never carry cash.  Like ever.  So sometimes I accidentally stiff the old people that bag my groceries.  Sorry old people.

3.  The military member aka my husband is called the Sponsor.  Evie and I are the Dependents.  Doesn't that just make me feel like June Cleaver.

4.  Military members are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Although they may (sometimes) work a normal 40 hour work week, they can be made to work as many hours as the military deems necessary.  Like 12 hour shifts for an entire week. I didn't want to see my husband anyway.

Okay, I just read through those four things, and I think I sounded a bit sarcastic.  Did I?  Whoops.  Honestly, I like a lot of things about the military life.  I've just learned a lot of things that make me roll my eyes.  Or pull out my hair.

Really, I just saved the best for last.  No sarcasm included even.

5.  Military spouses are amazing.  Spouses are the (not so) silent ranks of the military.  They serve too, just in a different capacity.  I've learned through blogland and living on base just how remarkable these women (and men) are.  They are friendly and supportive and sources of much needed know-how.  They learn military lexicon, stay strong through deployments, move to strange exciting new places, become on-and-off-again single parents, deal with their lives not truly being their own...all because they fell in love.

I wonder what this next year will bring.  I'm sort of hoping it will be less acronyms.