Today marks our first official day out of the Air Force, and yet my husband will be gone for 2 months. We haven't had to do the separation thing since we left Mountain Home in 2009. Oh, we've been trained and conditioned for temporary times such as this... it's just been a while.
I have so many mixed emotions on leaving the Air Force. It's been a great run filled with more memories than I can list. We learned things the hard way, found blessings in "disaster" assignments, and relied on each other. I truly consider my military friends = family. We loved on each other's babies as if they were our own, and knew someone was in the same boat. They were a call away at any time of the night. In fact, if the world could treat each other the way military families do, it could bring world peace. It was never saying goodbye, it was see you later at the next base. It forced you to dive in and get involved in each new assignment. You were no longer "new" to a town if you've been there 6 months. You better know the ropes because the next set of newbies were right behind you and they needed the same help you were given. There wasn't time to get to know each other, you were best friends right away, and you grew to love them even more.
Tricare has been a lifesaver for us and the boys. Never paid a cent for medical care, deliveries, always had my choice of Doctors, and could go in for a sniffle. No co-pays, $3 prescriptions, specialists, testing, therapy, and second opinions. There's a great safety net knowing you can always take care of your kids health without financial strain.
Keith got to fulfill a dream of being a fighter pilot. He was GREAT at it. He's a determined man always acting on his drive to live life to it's fullest. Thank you Keith for your service, thank you for the wild ride. I would do it all over again with you. Now, with shaky legs we venture out into civilian life. Nobody telling us where to go, but weighing decisions on our own. I'm so excited for your new adventure with Federal Express. Don't worry about us, we'll be here truckin' on with our budget and Ramen noodles! Waiting for you to embrace a new kind of life.
1 comment:
Isn't it funny that we're more frightened of civilian life than the life that sends our husbands to war?
I totally feel it! The AF is my security blanket.
Keith will excel wherever he goes-- it's in his DNA.
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