me, myself and the military

linking up with Riding the Roller Coaster and Household6 Diva

1. How did you and your spouse meet?

Christopher and I met through Kelly’s Korner first Show Us Your Singles. Christopher’s sister Stephanie put him on the list and the rest, they say, is history. I wrote out the whole story in GREAT detail here and here so I won’t rewrite the whole thing again.

2. How old were you when you two met?

I was 21 and he was 27

3. How long have you been together?

About a year and a half. Sometimes we talk about “back in the beginning” like it was fifty decades ago.

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?

I’m from the north and he’s from the south. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again- we continue to fight the Civil War every day.

5. How did you feel about him joining the military?

He was already in the military when we met so I didn’t have feelings one way or the other.

6. Where did your spouse go to Basic Training?

Fort Knox, KY. He told me the name of his barrack was Disney so they called it Disneyland, but it was a far cry from the Disneyland where all your dreams come true.  

7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?
He has, but before we were married.

8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?

I was there at his OCS graduation and I plan on being there when he becomes a four star general.

9. How long have you been a military wife?

One year, one week and five days.

10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?

Didn’t we already discuss this?

11. How did your husband propose?

He calls me Button so he bought a bunch of fancy buttons at the craft store, wrote on them, then laid them all out on the table like this:

12. Where did you get married?

In a little white church near my brother’s house.

13. How old were you two when you got married?

I was 21 and he was 28.

14. Did he wear his uniform on his wedding day?

Most certainly! I always said I would marry someone in a uniform and I did. I would also have accepted an astronaut or a cowboy is their respective “uniforms”, but I didn’t have high expectations of either of them showing up. I used to say I was going to join the military (that would NOT have worked out well for anyone), but I changed my mind and said I’d marry someone in the Army instead.

15. Do you live on post?

Nope. We currently live in the ghetto. It’s as glamorous as it sounds.

16. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?

We were only married for about three weeks before weeks of field training started, but besides that it was the months while he was at OCS.

17. What is your favorite base so far?

I like different parts of both Fort Drum and Fort Lee so I can’t say that I have a favorite.  The area around Fort Lee is prettier and there a lot more things to do in the area, but I knew more people (hello, Allison!) at Fort Drum and I liked the commissary and arts and crafts center better there. I liked seeing all the trucks and tanks every time I’d drive around Fort Drum because it gave more of an Army feel than I get here. I saw a lot of military people out and about whenever I’d run errands in New York and I liked that too. That being said, you can’t drive into Washington DC for the day while living at Fort Drum.

18. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?

There was a reason I always wanted to marry someone in a uniform. Yes, I think he looks good!!! Speaking of uniforms, he came home with a new service hat and it made me SO HAPPY. I love it. He was less enthusiastic about it.

19. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent?

I do. I think my current favorite are all the discounts we can get at hotels, restaurants, museums, etc.It's not really a “benefit”, but I do like my military ID card. It makes me feel so important. Side note: I have a new favorite ID-checker at the gate. His name is Randolph and he does this fancy flippy thing with my card that is just like the conductor in The Polar Express. It’s very impressive.

20. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?

Not really. Most of the military people I know are guys, most of whom aren’t married. My best military wife (technically she’s a girlfriend, not a wife) friend is Kim. Her boyfriend and Christopher graduated OCS together and we get along so well. I kind of like Jenn too. ;)

21. What is the hardest part of the military life?

I don't like moving. I don’t like the process of packing, unpacking, getting settled, repacking, unpacking, settling, packing, unpacking. On the upside, by the end up the summer we’ll be doing our fourth move in just over a year so I’ve become somewhat experienced when it comes to fitting stuff in boxes.

22. Do you own military wife stuff?

Not too much. I have a shirt and sweatshirt, but my favorite things are my Love My Hero necklace and the military bear Christopher gave me before me we married. When it comes to patriotic decorations however, I have an abundance.

23. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military?

OF COURSE! I’m very proud of him and do all I can to support him. I wouldn't move over and over and over again for just anybody. I like to think that mentioning The Wheels on the Bus should be the theme song of the transportation school was very supportive. ;)