Random Thoughts: 7 Months Left to Enjoy Him

There are literally hundreds of other blog post ideas waiting for me to write about. The one post I’ve been meaning to write is also the one I’ve been consciously avoiding. This post.

In September, I announced that my husband had decided to join the Marines. We’d been talking about it for months, but by September, I finally agreed to join him on-base during his military career. Now it’s official.

Two weeks ago, he took his mental & physical tests. He passed with flying colors and, therefore, signed his contract with the Marines. He also received his ship-out date for boot-camp: June 1st, 2010.

By this time next year, my husband may have already shipped out to a foreign country. With just 7 months left (technically, 6.5) to enjoy his company, this holiday season has become all the more special. He will be at boot-camp during both of our birthdays next year (June 11th & July 7th, respectively), but we will have the pleasure of sharing our 1-year wedding anniversary together (May 12th). We also plan on taking our honeymoon during the last week of May, right before he leaves for 3 months of physical & mental challenges in South Carolina.

As an Eastern spiritualist, I believe that every element is part of one whole. You can’t have smiles without tears. You can’t have sunshine without rain. You can’t have peace without war. A bit of yin & yang, if you will. I have my own theories has to how we could have more peace on planet Earth, but I’m not naive enough to think that the human race could suddenly cease fighting permanently … at least not anytime within the next few hundred years.

While I have a bit of faith left in humanity, we must remember that we are not that far removed from our cave-dwelling ancestors. Our biology still runs on fight-or-flight, live-or-die responses, & having conflict with those different from us is a natural part of that. Can we advance as a species to change this simple fact? Of course, but that takes time, & science can’t (safely) rush that.

Do we all have to fight every day? No, but we can’t be ignore that some of our fundamental differences can seriously impede the happiness & success of others. I don’t agree with what we are doing in the Middle East, but I do support my husband’s choice to defend his family & the country that he calls home.

Whether you agree with our current international conflicts, please please remember that these men & women are sacrificing their very lives to help us citizens keep our jobs, homes, & freedoms. Say a heartfelt “thank you” to the next military person you see. You don’t have to agree with their methods to appreciate how their hard work affects your daily life.

Final note: I know that the military is a sensitive subject for many. Please be respective & decent when you choose to comment on this post. The golden rule still applies – if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.