We are in what I consider the home stretch of this chapter in our lives. Hubby has a few years left in the Army to meet the minimum requirement to "retire". I use the word "retire" loosely because it simply means that it will be time to transition into his second career. It surely doesn't mean that he will stop working, in fact we kid around that we'll both be working into our 70's because we won't have Social Security to help us out. (that's another topic, for another time)
Seeing a little of the end of the tunnel - I hesitate to say the light of, because in this economy, would it really be? - I wondered for a bit if we'll finally get to live the normal life that Hubby and I would always talk about: The coming home at a decent hour, the knowledge that war won't stand in between us, the possibility of living in one place for roots to dig way deep into the Earth. That we will finally have the choice on how to manage our schedules and goals, and have the ability to change it when we find that it doesn't work.
Much of the Army life is blooming where planted, despite drought and flood, and we mold our family to the needs of this country, as romantic as that may sound.
And now, on the other side of that 10 year mark, closer to 20, after enough husband-less nights sleeping diagonal on our big bed, I also have to admit that I have dreamt of those days when I will irrevocably be first, instead of sharing this space with our great Mother Country. I have proudly given him to Her, and therefore to You; some days I just wish he could just be mine.
But, as I took a look around my house this last week, topsy-turvy and busy, single momming it, as usual, turned upside down from projects run amok, I had to ask myself, is what we have here normal enough?
Is everything else just details, extras, little trip-ups that will continue to come no matter where we are or who we are? That maybe, we humans are just so good at painting the perfect picture for what could be instead of what is. And in this quest to achieve, is there less room to enjoy?
I had to remind myself of a few things: We are solid family of 6. We have a faith that binds us. We live safely under a roof maintained by our dedication to one another. We take on each day with confidence.
Is that really all we need?
It's more. And no, it's not just normal, it's extraordinary. And I would do it all over again.
Have a peaceful Friday everyone.
