It's not even December.

The yearly Navy vs. Army academy football game comes the first weekend in December each year.  However, for all other days of the year, the Army and Navy co-exist on many bases and  in many countries around the world without a problem.  Usually.

I decided to pick up running while I've got the time and gym accessibility out here.  I've been practicing, and by that I mean working on my speed and distance with fairly consistent commitment.  With that, I try to jump on every 5k race they hold here.  It is NOT for the t-shirts, because as I've found out with one washing, they fall apart like stale cookies crumble.  Anyhow, I ran a 5k this last Saturday for Armed Forces Day.  Nearing the end of the race, to join with the "Armed Forces" theme, some short Army kid decided to encourage his battle buddy (the Navy's "shipmate", the Air Force's "wingman") to finish the 5k by saying loudly to him but in my general direction: "Are you gonna let a Navy female beat you?" 

What would you do?  Most Navy people asked if I ramped it up and kicked some Army black shorts; however, I made the decision not to.  Having done a long distance run the day before and considering the unforgiving Kuwaiti sun already rising to 90 degrees by 6 am, I decided my pride wasn't worth a bodily beat-down.  It is amusing, though, how a swishing ponytail will stir up pride in men who realize a girl is about to take away some small bit of their dignity, especially in front of their battle buddies.

I am so thankful to have a husband who is delightfully non-competitive, who is happier doing something with and beside me rather than speeding ahead of me, whether it be reading, playing Scrabble, or anything at all.