Deployment

Deploy (as per dictionary.com): 1. Military . to spread out (troops) so as to form an extended front or line. 2. to arrange in a position of readiness, or to move strategically or appropriately: to deploy a battery of new missiles.

I realize this many times each week while I work here that I have it pretty good, all things considered.  When I say "all things considered," this is what I have in mind, what I am thankful for considering those I take care of and work with:

- This is my first deployment, and probably my only deployment while on active duty in the United States Navy.  There are Army folks here who have been deployed 3-4 times...and they've only been in the Army for 4-6 years and are sometimes less than 25 years old.
- I am deployed to Kuwait, appropriately called "Camp Cupcake" in comparison to the hospitals and destinations closer to the front lines.  I am safe and the threats here are almost all "potential" and not actual, ear-deafening, duck-and-cover threats.
- While leaving a husband and puppy behind (of which I am always sad about), I am not leaving children behind and, as yet, have an extremely intact family back home which I don't have to worry about...except for those carrying pregnancies and giving birth while I'm out here!
- While cafeteria food isn't for the gourmet chef's palate, it beats MRE's by far.

What I am trying to say, essentially, is that I am thankful and in awe.  While it is always difficult to be away from my husband, away from home, and somewhat alone here in the dessert, I am surrounded by folks who have much more strife, many more worries, and much less time back home.  Please pray for our soldiers, sailors, and marines as they deploy around the world.  Pray for their well-being, for their health, for their wives, husbands, and children (and parents too, of course).  They sacrifice all of that, whether with courage and patriotism or not, for the defense of our country and the Constitution.  And sometimes they grow weary of it, just like everyone else experiences "burnout" in their regular jobs.  Pray for strength for them (and us) to carry out their missions well, and to look to the Lord for perseverance.

No opposable thumbs, but she can skype.

Do you see the laptop at her paws?

For those of you who didn't know, Jon and I have a dog.  She's a Blenheim-colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, now about a year old, whose name is Reagan Liberty Reimer.  I apologize for not yet introducing her, partly because she isn't with us on most of our adventures; those bed and breakfasts aren't always pet-friendly, and neither are hours of driving for a road trip.

The idea of having a dog started off about last March, and part of the concept behind it was to have a companion at home for me on my days off and for Jonathan, if and when I got deployed.  And here we are (the when, not the if)...and Reagan is Jon's miniature furry follower for all things at home.  We are so thankful for her, and thankful for all of our family and friends who help us take care of her (when Jon needs a break or has to travel) and invite Jonathan and Reagan over for company. 

Dogs aren't necessarily man's best friend...that's the role I play.  However, she's a blessing to us, and we are so very thankful for God's creation of furry little creatures without opposable thumbs.

Baby of the Family

Shelley is the baby of her family (the youngest of her siblings) and therefore pictures of her exist. Unlike me who suffered through a childhood fraught with photographic neglect. Yes, it is a fact that there are more pictures of my sisters then there are of me.

Now of course the Mitchells have posted more pictures of Adeline then have ever been taken of me in my whole life.

Anyway, my point is there are some wonderful moments with Shelley and our niece:

One of the most important moments...

Other than being with my husband for the first time in 5 months, the second thing I had been looking forward to the most was meeting my baby niece, Adeline, who was born on the exact day that I landed "boots on ground" in Kuwait (February 22nd). 

Charles and Charissa were kind enough to bring her down to our place before we even left for the beach.  They walked in the door, said hello, and handed her off to me for the long-awaited and hugely important moment of meeting my niece.  It was wonderful, and I look forward to her wonderfulness for the next many many years.  All the pictures are with everybody else holding her because, strangely enough, you can't hold a baby and take a picture at the same time (or you shouldn't try too hard). 

My personal favorite

Butterflies

Butterflies are one of the smallest yet most beautiful things in creation.  Jonathan took me to the butterfly garden within Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, and we also saw lots of them in the gardens of Hillwood.

If you've never heard of Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens, it's the last home/mansion of Marjorie Merriweather Post (Marjorie Merriweather Post Close Hutton Davies May), the heiress of the Post cereal fortune.  She was a funny lady, very popular, living and partying among the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families of the day.  She also married...4 times, the last when she was 71, and she managed to divorce him before she died.  And her daughters, all three, were married at least 3 times each.  Just an interesting bunch of facts. 

Despite the dismal family tree, the estate is beautiful and peaceful, and situated in north east DC, somewhere behind all of the ambassadors' houses.  We didn't know such a treasure existed so close!

An Entertainment Oops.

We've all done it, if not more than once.  Everybody wants to go see a certain movie, so you join in on the hype (even if not enthusiastically) and go as a big group to the big show, partly to see the movie but also to join in on the sense of camaraderie.  And then you realize you've made a poor entertainment choice when you can't stop cringing or being appalled that anyone would be so bold as to put such crude material on the movie screen.

Perhaps I'm old school, naive, or my sense of etiquette and decorum haven't been updated since I was ten, but I was quite upset at myself for sitting the entire way through Bridesmaids.

Some of you are saying "you should've known" after seeing the poster or realizing what else the producers had made.  I can't make an excuse for myself; the trailer looked relatively humorous.  If you've already realized this is going to be a small rant on society and a bit of a movie review, you can skip reading if you'd like because you won't miss much.  But if you're curious, here are a few tid-bits on this disaster.

First, I have a theory for you.  I was told this movie was a female version of "The Hangover" (a male-oriented comedy), only "worse."  It is a show in how females can out-do males in their masculine-type humor.  Why do they feel this is necessary?  It's like the female cop being the toughest and meanest on the squad.  It's about women trying to show-up men on things, be it humor or line of work, that usually have a male stereotype.  This movie went OVER the top to prove itself in its male-worthy disgustingness.

(Side-note, not all males enjoy male-humor.  Please know I don't mean to stereotype all men as the types who like bodily fluid, sex, and drinking (etc.) centered entertainment.)

Second, I dislike most movies on marriage and weddings because of the cultural implications that marriage weighs you down, is boring, and should be avoided until age 35+, once you've had all of the affairs and adventures you were sure you needed prior to imprisonment.  I will admit this movie doesn't go into the marriage aspect that much, for which I am thankful. 

Third, as my one friend who agreed that the movie was terrible complained of, the main character was a wreck.  There are people you feel for when they're a wreck, those who are out of luck or times have turned or are just struggling.  Then there are the people who can't get themselves onto their feet because they sit in a mud puddle, (by choice) and feel badly enough about themselves to make everyone around them have a miserable time at it as well.  And she's the heroine!  I guess I should quit my job (or try to get fired), go back to my parents, and make rude comments about how my car problems are some one else's fault, and I can be the wonderwoman of an entertainment plot!

I want to warn you that Bridesmaids is an over-the-top disgusting, morally agonizing "entertainment oops" of mine that you should avoid, even if you had the inkling to see just for fun.  Not even as a rental, not even if it's free.  And the hardest part is that many of my female counterparts out here...they said they couldn't stop laughing and thought "it was the best movie they'd ever seen."  I don't understand.  Your choices in entertainment do somewhat define you, or at least shape and inform you.  Remember that when you sit down to watch the next flick in your Netflix line-up.

Lessons Learned

I'm back!  I was stopped in the airport, in uniform, by a kind older gentleman who said hello and followed that with the question of "Are you coming back from R & R?"  A bit surprised that someone would recognize that being a reason for travel, I nodded politely and his response was "Yep, you have that look."  What is that look?  Perhaps the look of sadness and bewilderment, having left home and embarking on a long 24 hours of travel.  Or perhaps I looked so refreshed after my vacation...

It was relaxing and absolutely wonderful.  Jon and I will share tidbits of that with pictures over the next few weeks, so look for that.  And as with our anniversary trip posts, these ones may be delayed and out of order as well.  Our apologies, but our brains function without concern for chronology.

So, back to the title, "lessons learned."  It's a term used for debriefing (whoa, military term) after one has gone through training or an event.  This event, travel with the Army.  Please enjoy and, if you're in the Army, laugh with me and don't take it personally.

Lesson #1, a joke: What sound do you hear when an Army person is either dressing or undressing?  Velcro.

If you've seen the dessert uniforms, you will know that almost every pocket and closure is secured with velcro.

Lesson #2, a second joke: Why do you refrain from giving an Army person something, say a bus or plane ticket, too far in advance?  Because they lose it easily.  And why do they lose it?  They have too many pockets in their uniforms.  While waiting in line, I decided to evaluate the Army uniforms pockets: 8 pockets in the PANTS alone (a pair for each ankle, buttock, waist, and hip) and another 6 in the blouse, not including the countless "pen" pockets.  Incredible.  Our uniforms are not nearly so useful.

And lastly, Lesson #3: Travel pillows look ridiculous, but are absolutely necessary when traveling solo.

Not mine...mine is hunting-orange and velour.

On the flight there, I was leaned on by an enormous Army fellow who really should've had one to prevent the leaning.  It helps you stay upright, rather than get too comfortable with the soldier on either side, and for ladies with buns, it tucks right underneath and keeps the bun intact while sleeping.  It isn't perfect, but it is necessary when you don't have a spouse you can lean on, literally.

Anyhow, enough silliness.  Jonathan and I had great adventures while on leave.  Praise the Lord, he was able to take off the whole two weeks to be with me.  I couldn't do my job without his support and love.