The Thanksgiving weekend gave us time to see some good friends. Some were friends of Mike's from high school and some were friends of ours from Fr. Bragg. Since we were in a group of "mixed company" the subject of army life seemed to come up. Several times they asked if I missed my old "army life". In short the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Not for one single second! I surprised myself when I realized how strongly I felt about not missing my army life. I don't miss shopping at the commissary, I don't miss the terrible service we received when trying to access health care on post, I don't miss being forced to socialize with wives of other officers simply because it's what's expected, I don't miss having to patiently listen to the constant wining from the wives of younger soldiers about why their husbands aren't home (this is a total stereotype but it's also very true), I don't miss getting random phone calls and emails from women whom I've never met that insist that they should be receiving child support and demand that I assist them, I don't miss the constant stress that permeates every aspect of army life, I don't miss the constant judgement, the pressure to always be at your best, ready to support your soldier at all costs, I don't miss the phone calls at all hours of the night, the "go bag" in the hallway closet.
Lest you think that I'm completely bitter and cynical....I have made some wonderful friends in my army life. I treasure their friendship! I am not used to people looking twice at Mike when he's wearing his uniform because they are so unaccustomed to seeing someone in camouflage. I am lucky though because we moved back to New Orleans and I had friends and family and sorority sisters and colleagues all here to welcome me back. In a lot of ways its been like moving home. I do think that 9 years of active duty military life takes its toll on a family and I know I speak for all of us when I say we're enjoying the refreshing change of pace.
In the end the grass is always greener and I'm sure I will be ready to jump back into all things army in a few years. In the mean time we're enjoying the break!
