I am a Navy Wife. I was born to be a Navy Wife. [The Navy and I share a birthday :)] The irony: when I met the man who would become my husband, I wanted nothing to do with another sailor for as long as I lived! I "came of age" just around the corner from Naval Station Norfolk. I had seen my fair share of sailors. I knew the base like the back of my hand. But then, this man walked into my life, and that all changed!
It wasn't love at first sight on my part, but you'll never convince me it wasn't on his part. That picture up there... we've been holding hands since the day we met and I hope we continue to hold each others hands until the day we die.
You all must have heard it before, but my grandpa always liked to say "If the navy wanted me to have a wife, they would have issued one in my seabag!" I'm sure glad they didn't issue one to my hubs and he was allowed to find me. The day I said "I do" to him, I said "I do" to the Navy. I'm that Navy Wife that LOVES the navy and all her glory. I don't refer to the Navy as a mistress, or any of the other derogatory things so many young spouses call the service. I love the lifestyle. I love the pride. I love the swag.
You see that oak leaf there on the cuff? My husband is in Medical. A week after our formal wedding he deployed, and we all know about Haiti... that happened a day into deployment, a week after our wedding! My husbands ship went right away. I was so scared! The things he would see, the experiences he would undergo! He is usually in a hospital, so this was his first deployment.
I was initiated into Navy life like the worst of them! We had to change our wedding date. I had to pack our stuff up [read: pack HIS things up] all alone and move out of our apartment in a FREAK winter storm [we lived in Norfolk, VA... it doesn't snow!]. The ship was redirected immediately. We were moving across country, but not PCSing. Oh, and when I got there: I had flown to California with 4 suitcases and a carry-on. The rental company wouldn't rent a car to me, like they said they would, because I didn't have a credit card [just my debit, which they said I could use]! I was all alone, in a new place, away from home for the first time ever!
But ladies, never give up! For those who have flown into San Diego, you know they have those little shuttles that take you to the car rental lot? I SOBBED all the way back to the airport and all the way to the next car rental place. I called Navy Lodge hysterical afraid I would miss check-in. I couldn't find where I was going, even though I had GPS. I was all alone, and at that very minute, I sobbed openly in public. The people at this shady little car rental place must have thought I was crazy! I went to the bathroom to wash my face and decided it was this moment in time when my big girl panties had to come out and be put on.
I couldn't tell you the number of times I have sobbed since that day, four months ago. If you're anything like me, you will too. I quit my job when we moved to be a stay at home wife, and that pay cut is catching up to us as we live in a much more expensive place than home. I cry because I'm lonely all day, everyday. I cry because these first few months of our first year of marriage together aren't exactly what I planned. But I am NAVY STRONG [sorry Army gals, had to borrow it :)].
I think we all go through it and one day, I will look back and recall these days, in our TINY little California apartment, and laugh. One day, we will be able to say "we made it through the tough times, let's enjoy the
good times!"
The spouses I have met through here and through the FRG have been a huge support for me so far from home. If you think I can be a part of your support system, shoot me a line. We're all in this together ladies. Hooah, semper fi, anchors aweigh... we're the ones left to savor memories for our service members... ones
we'll never forget.
Cuddles and Kisses,
What a strong woman! I love your mili mondays. So great!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou are a strong woman Elizabeth! Much stronger than I.
ReplyDeleteI am in your boat, but I've been around for awhile so I am kinda used to it. I am a Canadian navy wife (common-law) ours it much smaller, but they still sail. So are you in Norfolk or Diego?
ReplyDelete