The Army and Me... and Ryan

Let me preface this with a small clarification to a previous blog. I am, in addition to being Polish and an Aggie, Cajun. This means that I love food, most any kind, and have a huge and insane family.

Also I'd like to leave a bit of a disclaimer. I support the US military and believe that even if we don't believe in the mission, we should believe in our soldiers. They do what so many make excuses to avoid. They keep our world safe for us and our progeny, often losing life and limb in the process.

Anyway, I am new to most of what the Army has to offer. I am not a soldier, I date a newly contracted Reservist. My Reservist recently volunteered to go to Basic Training. He was not required to go, but chose to.

To say the least, I was unhappy when I found out. It's hard enough making it through the Summer when he's thousands of miles away, but, while he's at Basic, I get letters and a two minute phone call every other week.

I've been thinking, though, and the more I think about it, the more "ok" I am with it all. Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally thrilled that my relationship with Ryan will involve his olive drab mistress for a while. I am, however, incredibly proud of him. He's been doing amazing things at Basic, and is really doing well. He really excels at all of this "hooah" Army stuff, and it makes him happy. He's taking hold of his future, and if anything, this distance and this lack of direct contact, has made our bond stronger.

If we can weather this nine weeks of unpleasantness, we can make it through just about anything... even a contract with the Reserves

tune in tomorrow for whatever it is I feel like writing.