"Am I over my head", was my question to myself once we moved to the first duty assignment. I quickly met my neighbors; Krissy, Nancy, Ann, and Melba. Melba so graciously helped me unpack all my boxes and 'told' me where I should put away all my (few but cherished) belongings. Being young, naive, and scared I let her for about an hour until I realized that she was just checking out all my belongings. I quickly told her to leave and that I appreciated her help but I would get my household settled. After she left, I broke down and cried. This was my first MOVE away from home and I had no idea what I was doing. After graduation from high school, I traveled to NYC "The Big Apple", my dream! Yet, this was nothing like that, I had to set up a house, not only for my new husband, son, but as Melba informed me "The ARMY". We did not live on post but a small trailer park outside Hopkinsville. I was going through my naive'ness" and did not question anything but my internal thoughts: again "Am I over my head?" "How does one set up a house for the ARMY?" continued to bounce throughout my mind. I assumed that "the Army" would come and inspect on it's convenience and I would be required to arrange everything to their suiting. I finished setting up house and informed my husband that evening. He made no mention of setting up the home for the Army. I began to calm myself and settle into being an Army wife.
This peace was short lived, due to my husband's military gear being stored by our front door. I never questioned it. I was a new wife, still adjusting to the Army ways and was constantly reminded of him being gone to war by his moods and distance. I realized the reason for storage area being readily available when the call came early in the morning, between 2 and 3am. A neighbor stopped by and they drove together to base. I received one phone call from him which he stated that he would give me a call when he could and it was just training. I had no idea what that meant, but thankful Krissy stopped by in the morning and explained. It was just a field exercise and that they (her husband and mine) would be gone until the training was complete. It ended up being a week, That time!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
LOL! I remember those days - the first move and not having any clue. My husband went from Basic/AIT straight to Korea for 18 months and then to Ft Carson.
ReplyDeleteI'd get laughed at because I didn't know the language and at the time, AFTB was centered for people married less than 5 years, we were married 5 when he got into the Army...
(by the way - I think I may know your Melba)
She was only trying to help in her own way and of course find out what "goods" I was bringing to the neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. Just took me off guard! My "Melba" was named after toast that her mother was served the day she was born! I learned so much actually from her: How to hide my dishes for company (not that we had a lot of company, but helped when people stopped over quickly), storage ideas in a small trailor, and many other corky things about the area.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was in the infantry so as my future blog will state, he was gone all the time. I was not told of AFTB and never stepped foot into the ACS there. Scared is an understatement of my state of mind. But, God is faithful and He got me through it. (with the help of some great "angels" in the neighborhood!)