LadyJarhead's blog
I have come to really appreciate that mommies and wives are taken for granted. Everything we do to keep our families running smoothly is seen as commonplace and what we HAVE to do.
My best friend in the whole world is getting married on Saturday. I cannot wait to be there, cannot wait to watch her marry the man of her dreams. It seems weird (in a good way) to watch her take this step in her life. I have known her for almost 16 years and have been with her through all of her relationship ups and downs. I cannot put into words how much it means to me to see her this happy, this content, and so excited about what life holds for her.
You ever have those days where you honestly believe that someone has tattooed "DOORMAT" across your forehead??? Those days when it feels that no matter how much you do, there is always someone there to tell you that it didn't get done right?
Sometimes I have to laugh at the stubborn streak that runs through my child. As much as I would love to say it did not come from me, I would be lying. His attitude, stubbornness, and just being bull-headed comes from yours truly. One thing I have learned this year though is that even though he is 6, he is not always wrong.
Case in point:
So the heat is starting to really kick up down here in Southern California and I have begun noticing the bugs, lizards, snakes, and other icky creatures as they come out of their holes. I know that bugs and such roam the planet, but what has surprised me is the SIZE of the creatures down here. I think of lizards as small and crawling low to the ground...but no. Instead what I see outside are lizards that STAND UP when they run and are the size of a small Chihuahua. Snakes are about average size I would guess. There are squirrels, rabbits, and quail galore out here.
At times it is difficult to take unsolicited advice or suggestions about what to do in a given situation. God only knows I have been the recipient of unsolicited, but well meaning advice over the years. Unfortunately for me, I have not always taken such advice, but there have been many occasions in which I have. Sometimes I have to realize that the person giving me advice or suggesting a different way of going about things has a different perspective than I do. Sometimes not being as close to the situation makes it easier for people to see what the solution is.
Dictionary: re·spect (rĭ-spĕkt')
tr.v., -spect·ed, -spect·ing, -spects.
To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
n.
A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem. See synonyms at regard.
The state of being regarded with honor or esteem.
Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
Everyday is a risk. Everyday we make decisions that can alter the course of our lives. For me the decisions that I have made have caused me to swerve just a little and at other times to completely veer off the road. Changing jobs, getting married, getting divorced, going to school, having children, and even something as simple as becoming friends with a person can change you in ways you never imagined. Changes for the good and some changes that aren't so good.
The high school in the area is gearing up for graduation tomorrow. The schools up in Northern California held their graduation ceremonies last week. Watching and listening to all of the students talk about the different events, the senior breakfast, senior ditch day, and taking finals early has led me back to thinking about when I graduated from high school.
So my other half will complain to me sometimes that I am too independent. I hardly ever ask for his help. It frustrates him when I put furniture together, fix broken things, or put toys together at Christmas. He says that I do not let him be THE man. He says that he is not used to having a woman around who does those things. In turn, I tell him that my independence is EXACTLY what he needs when he is away from home for long periods of time. He needs to know that he is not going to come home to outrageous bills for repairs or a house falling down around him because I did not fix anything.
My son has been playing T-ball this year. It is his first year playing. I was asked by the league if I wanted to coach a team, but I did not feel confident enough in my baseball teaching skills to do this, so I declined but offered to be an assistant coach. Little did I know that he would end up with a coach who knew very little about baseball. Now I realize that this is t-ball, and the ages of the kids are 4 to 6, but still. Teach them something please?!? I also realize that my son has a habit of pestering the coaches...."Coach can I play pitcher? Coach can I play first???
Recently a song came out by Kenny Chesney that I have been listening to quite a bit. It's called "Ain't Back Yet." I think it's a good, upbeat song. Nothing really to write home about, nothing as good as he has done in the past, but still there are a few lines that really register with me.
"Lookin' back at the moments, black and white
I wouldn't change a thing that would change my life
For the worse, or the better
Man I was gone, gone forever
"The laughs, the smiles, the trials, the tears
So today is Memorial Day 2010. Over the last five or six years I have been involved in a variety of activities that have left me pondering the meaning of this day and getting frustrated over the lack of education that civilians have about what this day means to those who wear and have worn the uniform.
Yesterday I decided to log onto my old high school alumni page to check out how the people from my graduating class were doing. I keep up with some of them on Facebook and it has been interesting to see how they have all turned out. There is one in particular that I have been looking for, but it seems impossible to find him....which was why I was checking out the old high school page.
I never realized how true this statement was.
Mike has been gone for a week and half this time...he comes home tonight. Then he leaves on Friday again for the weekend, comes home Monday, and then leaves again next Sunday for a month. Now I realize that these trips to the field do not even come close to equaling a seven month deployment, but they have made me realize one very important thing about relationships.
