MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #46

Are you a different person than you were five years ago? submitted by Sisterly Thoughts
Absolutely. Five years ago I was just starting college and had a lot of living left to do. I'm still quite young and still have a lot to learn but, in those five years, I went through heartbreak, two close and difficult deaths, all of my college career, leaving my family, falling in love and marrying a military man, and beginning this crazy Air Force journey. I think it would be impossible to stay the same for five years but I think, especially this past year or so, I have changed quite a bit. And I am totally okay with that! :)

If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? submitted by Thoughts from a Poekitten
First of all, I don't think I would want to go on that show but, assuming I had to, I would take my husband. F and I can have entire conversations without ever saying a word. We compliment each other perfectly and work well together which I think is something that would be extremely vital in trying to win a show like Amazing Race.

Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life? submitted by Just an Arizona Girl
Good, for sure. It's a great way for me to keep in touch with everyone back home and all my military friends throughout the world. Without Facebook and Twitter, I think I'd miss everyone a lot more than I already do.

June is National Soul Food Month- what's your soul food? submitted by NH Girl Displaced
Pasta. I could eat various forms of pasta every day and never get sick of it.

If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be & why? submitted by Sugar in My Grits
I think the 50's would be pretty sweet. I love the poodle skirt look and the Greasers. I think it would have been a pretty fun and crazy time. But I'm perfectly okay with living in the era that I do. :)

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #45

I decided this seemed more interesting than Flashback Fridays (and I was running out of ideas) so now on Fridays I will be taking part in Friday Fill-Ins, courtesy of Wife of a Sailor. Enjoy!

1. Underwear Parties, how old is too old? submitted by Wookie & Co.
 I have absolutely no idea what an underwear party is so I'm not really sure what age group should even have this!

2. What was your favorite class in high school? submitted by Adventures of M-Squared
English. I've always been really good at it (thus why I minored in it in college) so I was always in Honors English/AP English in high school and it was pretty much a walk in the park for me.

3. Have you ever convinced packers/movers to pack something they aren’t supposed to for a PCS? submitted by Ground Control to Major Mom
We've only had one PCS so far and it was a DITY but, next time when we have TMO I'll see what I can get away with. ;)

4. Blogging plays a growing roll in the media. If you were asked to embed as a blogger with a deployed military unit, would you go? What do you think your blog would be like? submitted by To the Nth
I would definitely consider it. I think it would be interesting to see what kind of lifestyle they have overseas. I think my blog would basically tell the day-to-day life over there so that families back here in the States could "see" what their loved ones do and know what kind of environment they're in. Hopefully that would bring them some peace knowing their loved ones are okay.

5.   Do you think kids should attend year-round school? submitted by Marrying the Navy 
No way! While I understand the importance of education, kids still need time to be kids too!

The Look

There is one thing about the "civilian world" that bugs me...staring. Growing up I lived about 30 minutes from Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It's a mostly decommissioned base so it was not an accurate feel of what living by a base would be like. The only people I ever saw in uniform were those marching in the Memorial Day parade every year. To be honest, I don't think I ever saw someone in uniform in another setting until F. But, when I started to see military, I didn't think much of it. Maybe it's because F is military, I'm not sure. I would look, mainly to see if it was someone I knew, and then go on my way. However, I've learned that civilians like to stare.
A couple of weeks ago, F and I were at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (located here on base) for a promotion of a buddy of ours. F was in his service dress, having come straight from work and being part of the ceremony. Now, mind you, this museum is all about the Air Force. It is also located on the base we live on. You would think, knowing this information, people wouldn't be surprised to see airmen at the museum. However, from the second we got out of the car in the parking lot, all the way to the back of the museum where the ceremony was being held, people stared. I don't know if it's because F is a young officer but, whatever the reason, they stared. A day or two later we had to go grocery shopping. F, being really hungry, decided we should go as soon as he got home. He stayed in his ABU's and we went to the store, a rarity for him. Again, from the parking lot through the whole store, people stared. The store we went to is pretty much directly next to the base. You would think in an area that thrives off the base being located here, seeing military wouldn't phase anyone. Apparently that is not the case.
All these stares got me thinking...why exactly do people stare when someone in uniform is present? Am I the only person who has never done that? Should I feel that my husband is special and feel proud or should I be annoyed that people eye us like a museum display? Whatever reaction I'm supposed to have, I wish people would just quit staring!

at the museum, getting stared at

The Downside of Military Life

In many of my blog posts I've talked about all the ups and downs to being a military wife. There are definitely days where I thoroughly enjoy this life and am glad it's ours but, then, there are other days where I dislike it and wish we could be a "normal" couple. Today is one of those down days.
Being a military wife takes a lot of adjusting. You have to adjust to often giving up your dream career for your husband's, you have to adjust to moving every so many years and making house after house a home, you have to adjust to being away from family when you really wish you could get a hug. As time has gone by, I've gotten better at making these adjustments. I think F would agree with me when I say I've come a long way from the girl that moved here in May of last year. However, the one thing I haven't adjusted to is the friendships of military life. What I mean by this is I haven't adjusted to how many amazing people you can meet but then how quickly they can be gone. I understand that PCSing is a normal part of military life, but that doesn't necessarily make it easy. Since PCSing here myself last May, I've met some amazing people. Some of the girls I would talk to have PCSed since I've been here, but it has never been super upsetting because it's been girls I've hung out with once or twice and weren't extremely close to. In other words, I've yet to say goodbye to someone really close.
Next Spring, my neighbor will be PCSing. I would most certainly say she is the person I've become closest with of all the ladies I've met here. I've thought about her moving away and it's really sad but I figure I'll worry about it when the time comes. The one saving grace I have is that we will be moving out of base housing into a rental house for our last two years here so I can remind myself that she wouldn't be next door anyways and hope that helps the process. However, that's still a year away so I've pushed it to the back of my mind. However, today, another close friend of mine text me to inform me her husband got orders........to Guam. She is extremely excited so, of course, I'm happy for her but I can't help feeling upset as this is the first close friend I have to say goodbye to. They have to report by November, far sooner than I expected. This girl and I have some amazing memories together, including my wedding and her husband's homecoming from his first deployment. It makes me sad that she won't be here for more memories, like our first children, my husband's first deployment, etc. I know this is all part of the military life but it's one downside that I'm not sure I will ever fully adjust to.