Musing At the Cleveland Airport

I am sitting here in the Cleveland airport after my flight was diverted due to snow. This always happens to me when I fly. I can be flying in the middle of August and somewhere, somehow, there is going to be some sort of storm with my name on it. It usually happens when I am nowhere near Disney or anywhere there is a good movie theatre or nail place.

My husband always laughs because this is my karma. I truly believe that in a past life, I killed the entire village that was trying to raise those children. I'm only kidding, but you get what I am talking about. The good news is that there is a difference this time. I spent my weekend in Fayetteville, NC. That's right – Fort Bragg. I have never been there, nor would I have chosen this area for a trip, but I am happy I went because I was enlightened. I met some of the nicest, most accomplished women who are also military spouses at an event called SpouseBUZZ Live, sponsored by Military.com. The best part of this entire scenario is that I am one of them. Yes, I have known this for the past 11 years of milspousedom, but this weekend it hit home. I met the folks for whom I am trying to work, for whom I look for career options, and for whom I would do anything in my power to help.

I heard from a lady who accepted help from another spouse named Barb. She later discovered she was the General's wife, but to Becky, she was just another wife who offered to help in a time of need. I met Ginger (Sew Much Comfort) who started an entire organization that gives adaptive clothing so that service members have something to where while recovering from disfiguring injuries. I met a woman who became a blogger after filling in for her blogger husband while his hands were mending after being injured by an IED.

These women made me feel unworthy to call myself a military spouse – at first. Then I realized that we all have our individual experiences. It is okay that my husband has never been on a deployment, only TAD's. I have not had to deliver my children alone, nor have I moved overseas alone. All of this is okay because I am still a spouse, supporting my country by supporting my sailor. I, too, never know what the next day will bring and am grateful every time he walks in the door. I, too, have moved more times than I care to mention. And I, too, have friends to whom I have grown close and to whom I have had to wave goodbye as they PCS'ed to another duty station, leaving me behind to try to bond with a new bunch of people.

So, I will continue to try to help those of us who need help, information, or just a shoulder to cry on. I will write about our issues and concerns so as to enlighten the civilian population among whom I live, far away from my comrades closer to base where I am not such an uncommon denominator. And I will laugh like I did this weekend. I will laugh about the gremlins that descend the minute Hubby pulls away with his orders in hand and his collar devices polished. I will laugh about the Tricare issues that will always, I fear, come up when I least need them. And I promise to always laugh – or cry – right along with you, my sisters at arms.

I am honored to be a part of this group. Thank you for your service and may those gremlins pick on someone else the next time your spouse deploys.