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Number 974 in our book is “reminiscing about how things change over time.” I’m in the midst of going through my Army Reserve files as I double check my retirement points to apply for my reserve retirement pay as I approach age 60. It’s like taking a walk through my military past. Continue reading
We’re rounding the corner into Thanksgiving and Christmas – the holidays – the time of year when giving is at the forefront of our minds. Fortunately, there are many ways to give to our military community. So many that it’s hard to choose. You really do have to do your homework. I don’t know about you but one of my biggest worries when it comes to giving is “will my money be put to good use?” How do you really know if what you are giving is doing the greatest good? Continue reading
I have my mom to thank for many of my military memories. I wrote home a lot, describing my basic training, describing my first assignment in Germany, covering cards and letters with my highs and lows, almost like a journal. Mom saved the letters and Continue reading
My husband and I are both retired military, him from active duty and me from the Army Reserves. We don’t live near a military post or base. We rarely make the 4-hour drive to the closest commissary and exchange. Despite those facts, I find myself reminded daily of many of the items we list in 1001 Things to Love About Military Life. Here are a few. Continue reading
I walked out on my porch, looked over at my neighbor. She and her husband gave me a nod of pity as to say, ‘he’s not home again – huh?’ She spoke up and said, “You know you are his mistress, right?” I laughed, although I cringed inside at the reality that the Army was his wife during this time of predeployment/deployment and I was the mistress once again. Continue reading
Some things are just easier with a friend by your side. Navigating the military journey is definitely one of them. I’m sure you’ve heard your soldier talk about his/her # 906. Battle buddies that he/she has bonded with through their service. Your soldier doesn’t have to be the only one that has someone who understands what they do all day or that will “have their back” should they ever need protecting. The same can be true for you. Continue reading
Overhead, almost out of nowhere, we saw a bright orange United States Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter race across the skyline in front of us. My children grabbed their boogie boards and ran to my beach chair rattling off questions faster than I could answer. Continue reading
Here in the Crooks household we use the dry erase board for everything. It’s how we plan our days, our grocery lists, and our appointments. So it wasn’t anything out of the normal routine for my husband to jot down his thoughts and his “to do list” while preparing for his upcoming deployment …. There was one thing, and I noticed it the minute I walked by the board, which stood out. “O-Bit Write-Up.” Perhaps he thought if he abbreviated it that I wouldn’t catch that he had put on his to do list a reminder to write his obituary. If so, it didn’t work. I stood in front of the dry erase board and cried. Continue reading
Posted in Worth Joining For, Worth Staying For
2 Comments
“#315. For some of us, the military is where we met our spouse and that is one really great thing to love.” There is no greater love than a love that is the willing to sacrifice or die, paying the ultimate sacrifice, for another. After all, doesn’t know this form the basis of the extreme pride we military spouses feel for our Service members? But that love, our Service member’s career can present some pretty unique challenges for our relationships. Staying connected can be difficult when you’re separated by thousands of miles or the over-time hours of duty. Continue reading
As a new military spouse – I complained. I complained to anyone who would listen to me. That’s right, I was that spouse who would stop you in the commissary and tell you how bad my life was. Maybe I would tell you about the time I was seriously ill and my husband was not able to leave his training to come to my side. I might tell you about how I left my amazing career on the East Coast to get married and then I was stuck in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t find a job. I might even tell you about my expectations of married life and how my reality was nothing like what I expected. I was married but I hardly ever saw my husband – What’s up with that? Continue reading