I hate this sticker. I see it everywhere; on t-shirts, bumper stickers, pins, hats. I hate it. There are new, but similar ones springing up everywhere. “Behind every soldier is a tougher Army wife.” “She who waits also serves.”
Let me tell you about my day.
I got up around 6 AM, hit snooze a few times, showered, and got dressed. I drove to the walking trail on base to meet my ARC (Arse Reduction Club) friends for our weekly walk. It was raining so we skipped the walk and came back to my house for coffee. After chatting for a couple of hours we split up. Megan and I took the kids to McDonald’s for lunch and to burn off some steam. I went home, did some stuff around the house then went to a physical therapy appointment. After that I took Taryn and the boys to Target. Bought some crap I probably don’t need. Stopped at the liquor store for a box of wine. I texted Christin, Sara, and Heather for a while. Sara and her boys came over for dinner. Taryn and the boys and I drove to the other end of town to pick John up from soccer practice. Once home I bathed the boys and put them to bed. Now I’m sitting here, drinking a glass of wine, watching cable TV, and writing this blog on my ridiculously high-speed wireless internet.
In all of that, no one shot at me. Not one time.
Not one time did I have to worry about the place I was standing getting hit by a rocket or a mortar.
I wasn’t thousands of miles from my children, wondering what they were doing with their day.
My day wasn’t easy. Being here, far from my husband, parenting alone – it’s hard. But it’s not the toughest job in the Army. In fact, it’s not a job in the Army at all. I’m not in the Army. I can walk away any time I want. It might not be easy, but it’s not a crime.
My husband? He’s in it. 100%, every single day of his life. For the last 225 days that has meant living in a very dangerous place. A place far away from all of us. A place where he can’t drink the tap water. Where he can’t walk to the bathroom without wearing Kevlar. Where he has to carry a weapon all of the time, just in case.
I’m pretty sure his job is tougher than mine. Lots tougher.
Wow. Goosebumps from that picture at the end. Good on you for telling it like it is, B.
Thanks Jo!
Spot.on. Great post today:)
Thanks friend!
I’m a married female in the AF (hubby is at home with the kids). As an ADAF member, I HATE those bumper stickers, shirts, flags, etc. Know what else burns my ABUs? Seeing that ____ (insert service name here) spouse get out of her husband’s car that has the O-6 sticker on it after she parks in the “Col” parking spot. Ah, em…that sticker allows the COLONEL to park there! The sign does not read “Colonel’s car’s parking spot”.
I feel your pain sister!
Great post, B. Again, you’ve put things in perspective. Love to you and Dallas x
Love you too, friend!
You really know how to keep it real. Thanks. By the way, do they have that ridiculous statement for husbands of women soldiers?
Nope. But I bet if they did they would be funny!
I love these posts. Also, I need to form my own ARC because then I’d have an official excuse to have coffee with my friends (also the name is awesome).
Truth be told – I started it because I wanted to hang out with friends! Start your own!
Thank God for men and women who serve…and for you telling it like it is!!!
Thank you for your support!
Reality check. Thanks, I needed that.
You’re welcome. We all need it sometimes.
We are so BF’enFs. If I were in your shoes I would have the same exact beef. This isn’t about YOU (although we all send you ESP hugs and I would text you all day too), because you’re doing the exact same stuff I do all day only I only have one kid and I work from home so it shifts a bit. You ARE amazing for not going bat-shit crazy and losing your mind, though. You are stupendous for marrying into this world. But you ARE home. Great post my friend. I’ll text you later. Oh wait -
I’m still waiting…
I agree with you…mostly. Dallas couldn’t do what he does if he couldn’t count on you to take care of everything, and I mean everything, back home. Give yourself a little credit sister. Being a geographical single parent is tough business. Especially when you also had to navigate through the coldest an snowiest winter on record in Anchorage. You give a lot too my friend. We all do. xxoo
True. I give myself plenty of credit – usually in the form of shoes.
Love you!
If you want someone to shot at you, I call dibs!
You’re not a very good shot are you?
10 out of 10, sister.
The first pic REEEEEKS of Ed Hardy.
FYI the only thing worst than wearing Ed Hardy is wearing a knock off.
Ugh. Wearing Ed Hardy makes me hate someone automatically.
Really great message. Though I know it’s got to be tough to be away from your hubs and dealing with everything alone, you are right: you don’t get shot at while doing it.
And I have all of you and my people here. It’s not that bad.
Thank you , for perspective. I was bitching about it being 115 degrees here for several days, but then I thought of my son, in Kevlar with gun in hand and heavy pack. I’m in air conditioning, my water is safe to drink and I can wear shorts and sandals with no fear of hostile gunfire. God bless your Dallas, my son and all the rest who serve. Great post. Virtual hugs to you.
Virtual hugs back. Both our soldiers are doing the hard stuff!
Another EXCELLENT post. Your serious stuff is outstanding. Keep it up.
Thank you, Dana!
Well said!
Thanks Cherie!
So glad you reminded us today. Really, keep reminding. We are sooo lucky!
I try. I need to remind myself sometimes too!
sweet jesus, 70 lbs in gear. no shit. my kid is 55lbs and piggybacking him up the stairs takes my breath away.
this is incredible – FYI. You? are incredible, but your husband is more incredible.
Thanks to him, for serving. Every day, Thanks.
Thanks. I agree – he’s pretty incredible:)
Love this so very much Bridget. I feel the same way. There has been so much said about this but really we are just here cause we are in love. Not to mention wives wearing their husbands ranks too. But that is a whole new subject..
Exactly. I’m here for love, of him:)
I love you. I love you. I love you. I feel the exact same way. I am not in the ARMY. My husband is. I don’t wear his rank or experience. I just love him and want to support him at being the best WHATEVER he wants to be… and right now that means being a Soldier. Its tough being far from each other and its tough running a family without him but I got covered with little whining because I love him. Thanks for writing this. I really enjoyed reading it.
I love you too. For reals.
I’m in it because I love him. It’s that simple.
I, too, am tired of the whole army wife/martyr thing. In fact, being that we live waaaay off base and I have a job “among the civilians”, sometimes I don’t even think about the trials I go through because I don’t feel like that’s my world when he’s deployed.
I tell people not to feel bad for me (civilians I work with pity me) because he’s the one doing all the work. I eat ice cream for dinner and go to Target whenever I want!
Exactly! It’s hard, being without him. But I have his love, support, and paycheck. I’m not a single mom. I’m not “in the Army.” I’m in love and I make some sacrifices for that love. But no one ever shoots at me. (Unless you count nerf guns!)
Wow- Great post, Bridget- I’m sure Dallas appreciates it- BTW- I was looking at Klout today- and they have you rated as an expert in : Soccer, Gay Marriage And Blogging. Um?
Ha! I guess that just shows how dumb Klout is! I’m only an expert on boxed wine:)
Beautiful Post (as usual )
Something to make you smile: xxx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuGLJCNO-pE
Oh my! I posted about Adam Levine before seeing this link!!
I love you!
You rock my world.
For real.
This was some honest, awesome writing my friend.
Thank you.
I expected hate mail from other Army wives. None. I guess I’m no the only one who feels this way.
That photo came through my FB feed during the severe heat wave the mid-west faced a couple of weeks ago. I thought about it a lot and didn’t complain about the heat once. Perspective is a beautiful thing.