Over the years of my marriage to the GM1, I've taken a bit of flak from those in my family who are lifelong civilians.
(Backstory: The GM1 entered the military at age 18, this having been his goal from childhood. Now, after 20-plus years, the GM1 is leaving on the final deployment of his career. He's going to the Persian Gulf, and other ports to and from, and his mission is as always- to serve his country, to maintain honor, and to protect the citizens of the United States of America.)
And yet there are those who delight in giving me shit about it. Please note, however, that they are not demented enough to give the GM1 shit.
Examples:
Cousin A: "So you keep saying he's been gone on deployments and assignments that add up to being away from home for about 1/3 of your marriage. So what? Travelling salemen are gone all the time!"
My answer: "Yes, but he's been gone protecting YOU. "
Aunt B: "Okay, he gets hurt from time to time at work, injuries that might aggravate him for years afterward. So what? Carpenters bang their thumbs all the time!"
My answer: "Yes, but he was hurt protecting YOU."
Uncle C: "He gets calls in the middle of the night about problems at work. He gets called in on his days off. He gives up his free time to help his shipmates. So what? Plumbers get midnight phone calls all the time!"
My answer: "Yes, but he gets calls and helps out to protect YOU."
Cousin D: "He makes less than most secretaries. He owns very little material wealth. Poor people scrape by all the time!"
My answer: "Yes, but he makes substandard wages for constant overtime work so he can protect YOU."
They don't get it. The GM1 has served his country for all of his adult life. He's given up personal goals and altered idealistic plans and devoted his life to protecting our country, our citizens, and our way of life. He's the biggest, brightest star on the flag- the man who didn't just talk about it.
He did it.
Memorial Day is the day we commonly remember and celebrate the lives given in service to our principles of freedom, democracy, and equality. Let's also remember and honor the lives given for this by those who are still with us.
There are millions and millions out there just like the GM1.
Let's remember all of them too.
Having been an underpaid travelling salesman/carpenter/plumber myself, I would like to say that there's nothing better than having a woman behind you who keeps the home fires burning.
And few things worse than ungrateful folks who just. Don't. Get it.
Posted by: Harvey at May 31, 2004 08:14 AMI have been reading your blog for some time, just never commented. I am glad you are feeling better. Please tell the GM1 for me, thank you for all of your years of service protecting me, my family and our country.
Posted by: Jackie at May 31, 2004 08:43 AMAs a military brat who grew up on one Army base after another until I was 17, I am in total agreement with you regarding how people don't get it!
May [insert deity of choice] bless you and yours!
I recently retired from the Air Force and my husband is still active duty. People who have never served in the military or have never been around military bases, don't get it. They never will. Shortly after I joined the military in 1978, my mother actually said to me that she never hired people who had been in the military 'cause they were lazy and the military was one step above welfare. Nice. I hope most folks have come around since then, but I'm not so sure they have.
Posted by: Nanc' at May 31, 2004 04:30 PMLA,
Glad to see a fellow military spouse on the munuvian rolls. I don't think I would be able to think of an intelligent comeback like you so graciously have all this time. My husband is also gone now, too. I hope that stay busy and keep happy.
YOU! I hope YOU! stay busy and happy.
Posted by: ALEX at June 1, 2004 02:41 AMPass along my thanks to the GM1, and a heaping helping for yourself. The hardest part about getting out of the military was learning how to talk to people who had no clue about what being in the military really meant.
Posted by: Ted at June 1, 2004 04:19 AMI would be willing to bet that they are like this in just about every other aspect of conversation. If you said - boy we had the hottest summer... they'd say - yeah right, it's not nearly as hot as the summer I spent in Podunckville. Or if you said - I had to have both legs amputated... they'd say - well that's not nearly as bad as the time I had to have my whatsits removed. You can never win when someone's mindset is to think that nothing is worse than the stuff that happens to them. And yes, I have family like this too. Are we sisters???
Posted by: Teresa at June 1, 2004 06:35 AMI give my thanks, love, support, and prayers to you and the GM1. I know I will forever be in debt to the men and women that serve our country. I hope He knows, that there are in fact thousand of people that truly do appreciate everything he does.
His bat cave remark, has made me laugh all week.. :o)
Posted by: Natali at June 1, 2004 04:01 PM