Wonder & Sparkle

On Friday I had to go to PSD to get a new ID card.  While I was there, I couldn't help but notice the fresh faced couple who came through the door.  They were chatting and smiling while everyone else in the room was looking quite grumbly.  There was the retiree with his wife, the active duty female and her daughter, the young man and his buddy.  The young couple definitely changed the "energy" in that room.  As I looked a little closer at this happy couple, I couldn't help but notice the white envelope he had in his hand.  The one with the script writing that said "Marriage License".

Oh....to be "new" to the Navy.  Full of wonder, sparkle and amazement!

It quickly brought back memories of the day I received my ID Card.  We were stationed at Kings Bay and had just returned from our honeymoon in Key West.  I remember I had on a Ron Jons T-shirt and was a little sunburn.   Being a former Army wife, I was more than a little surprised to find I was already "in the system", which was a little awkward, but we both just chuckled. 

A part of me wanted to talk to this new Navy wife and share some good advice and my best wishes.  I wanted to tell her when her husband is at sea, yes she might will cry a lot but that it will get easier.  That I don't how it gets easier, it just does.  And that every deployment is different, but its the decision you make to get a routine and follow it is what will make the time go by faster.   And tons more things, instead I just let her enjoy the experience as it was clear they were in their own little world.

It was nice to revisit those first memories of being a "Navy Wife", they were starting to get a little blurry.    Then my thoughts raced back to reality, I remember I need to put gas in my car (he used to do this for me) and get to the cleaners to pick up his Dress White Uniform before the end of Lil K's school.  Big K is headed out the door soon for a school.   I guess I need to start thinking about my own routine while he is gone.  Just when I was getting used to having him around.  Darn Navy!

Comments

[Reasa]

I remeber going to PSD a few years ago. It was the happiest time for me. We had just gotten married and were ready for everything. It did not take long for reality to set in. I cried alot while Hubby was out to sea doing work ups and going to schools. I learned real quick to enjoy every minute we have together. Thanks for bring back those first memories of everything is great and nothing will beat us. I needed that today.

[navywifemeg]

hehe I was that couple a few months ago. We were really brand new, only married a week before we had to get me my ID card before he left. We definitely were the giddy two in the room full of grumpy people...

[Guard Wife]

I remember the first time I had to go to base for an ID card...I'm thinking we had to go two separate times because of network issues on their computer system (hard to believe I know). Time flies.

[Sarah]

We had to drive 5 hours away because my husband didn't have an assignment yet and didn't live near an installation (long, complicated story). It sure was exciting to wait in line and get that first ID. And I was sad to get rid of that one, because the photo turned out so good!

[US Navy Wife]

I got my ID card two days after we were married, and eight days before he left for a PCS to Bahrain. I was on my own to get medical records begun and navigate the whole military system. After the promised three months, he received permission to have us join him. It took another five months to go through all of the medical and legal red tape and mazes before we had tickets to join him. All in all, we were separated ten months after being together for just ten days of marriage, and just three months of dating prior.

I wished that my ID card had his picture on it when we landed in Bahrain - I wasn't sure I could pick him out of the crowd!

That first year, I learned that my house and furniture now belonged to him. I learned that without his permission, the Navy wouldn't pack anything. I learned that the military is accustomed to really guiding folks - I couldn't get them to tell me what was the next step! They insisted on getting THIS ONE thing done and then we'll move on. All the while, I could have been lining up the next thing, to fall like dominos. It was ridiculous, but I've learned to live with it.

It was an interesting year. Followed by seven more... so far.

[Nikki]

I remember going to get my first ID card as a WIFE this time around. I was sooo happy to get back into the system!!! My dad was in the Army when I was a kid and after 5 yrs of marriage, the DH decided he'd had enough of the civilian lifestyle and enlisted into the Navy.

Had to navigate everything myself b/c the hubby was at boot camp, but TriCare wasn't hard since my dad works for them, and getting the ID itself wasn't too bad, either, just a really long wait for them to call my number. I even liked my pic, even though they had the contrast up too high on the computer camera and I ended up looking really Goth =).

[Theresa]

This post made me smile and cry at the same time! My husband and I were "that couple" just a few months ago. We had to get my card a few days after we got married due to his deployment. We were both so excited that I was going to have an ID card with his last name on it! Now that he is gone, military ID's don't seem quite as exciting to me.

[CaliValleyGirl]

Oooh...that is one thing I really look forward to. I keep on chanting that: can't wait until I get that ID! My fiance rolls his eyes...Not that it is as powerful here as it was in Germany. In Germany it opened the magical gateway to Taco Bell and Dr. Pepper, the commissary with Reese's Pieces ice cream and Eggo Waffles, the bookstore and video rental...but I guess in Alabama it will open the door to liquor on Sundays...so it's got that going for it!

[childofGod]

Hey everyone!

My life as a military wife has been over for ten years now. I still miss it, though! I have a question and I hope someone can give me an answer to. We are living in Germany now, our 19year old son joined the Navy and left yeasterday for Boot Camp in Great Lakes,IL. His wife is German and is still going to school here. Now my son told her that he just needs to send her some paperwork for her to fill out and then she can get her ID card here. But can she go to any military base to get the ID card for the Navy, or does it have to be a Naval Base? Any answers will be greatly appreciated!