Who Babblingal

[babblingal]

I am originally from the East Coast. I went to college in the Southwest and grad school in the Deep South. I have an MSW however I have my career in the freezer until my kids are older, then I will defrost it and go back to work. Most likely as a school social worker, as I have done that before and loved it. Additionally, it would put me on the same schedule as my children. I have two sons and I have a husband who is active duty military. We have been doing the military thing for many years and will be doing it for a few years more. I differ from most military officer wives as I am quite liberal and wish we didn''t even need to have a military. However, I support my husband 100% and those who choose to serve our country. My husband knew that if he married me I would not just be a *bracelet* on his arm! I tend to rattle the system a bit when I don''t like what I see. I see myself as an advocate, others see me as a sh*t distuber.

But so far it hasn''t gotten in the way of my husband''s career. LOL

For our 10th wedding anniversary we redid my ring and had my old stones put in a new ring for my husband. Then bought a brand new ring for me. I found DT in 2000 while researching what we wanted to buy. A few years and 1000 posts later,Gilnat banned me for reasons still unknown to me, other than his claim that a group I belonged to was plotting to "bring down" his website. Patently ridiculous. I am a consumer, I only wanted what was best for consumers, an honest and enjoyable diamond learning resource that allowed consumers and vendors to hang out together. Clearly my values and Gilnat''s conflicted.

I had also discovered PS at that time, but was merely a lurker. I am a *one message board at a time* kinda gal, and I tried to do DCC and PS but that was overloading me.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

Hey Babs, how are you enjoying the "military thing"?

I grew up military, and have military in my blood although I never joined myself. I found moving all over the world fascinating, although as a child it always bummed me out to leave my friends and have to make new ones all over again.

How do your kids handle it? And you?

 

[babblingal]

Rich,
We have actually been very lucky up until this point as we have not moved many times. My husband has been active duty for over a decade and we have only had to move twice. Very unusual given my husband's position. Most people we know have had to move about 6 times already. We have been very open with our children about Daddy's job and how we might be asked to move, and we also have made sure to revisit our friends when we have moved away. This way our son knows that he does not have to give up his friends just because we live in a different state. Also, with the internet it really makes it easier to keep in contact with his friends as well.

As for me, I don't fit the stereotype of the military wife, but I seem to be muddling thru it. You know how the military depends on the last 4 digits of the sponsor's social security number? Well I didn't know that when my husband and I first got married. I was giving people the last four digits of my telephone number!

Who knew? LOL

We haven't gone overseas yet. Where did you get to live?

 

[AGBF]

In another thread you just described an incident in which a worker at Starbucks called you Punky Brewster. Rather than highjack *that* thread, I thought I'd ask you here: who *is* Punky Brewster?


Deb

 

[babblingal]

Punky Brewster was a show that was on during the 80's. It's main character was a little girl named, appropriately enough, Punky Brewster.

Here is a link I found that features several pics of ole Punky.

http://punkybrewster.television-series.com/punky.html

When you get to the site, there is a list of stuff on the left hand side, click "pictures" and you will be taken to beaucoup pics of Punky.

Since AGBF knows what I look like, it would be nice to have her opinion on the matter as I believe she will be more accurate than the Starbucks server!

 

[AGBF]

----------------
On 11/6/2003 9:04:21 AM babblingal wrote:

Punky Brewster was a show that was on during the 80's. It's main character was a little girl named, appropriately enough, Punky Brewster.


Here is a link I found that features several pics of ole Punky.


http://punkybrewster.television-series.com/punky.html


When you get to the site, there is a list of stuff on the left hand side, click 'pictures' and you will be taken to beaucoup pics of Punky.


Since AGBF knows what I look like, it would be nice to have her opinion on the matter as I believe she will be more accurate than the Starbucks server!----------------

That is so funny! She looks just the way you do in your wedding pictures, Babs! (Except for the hairdo.) I am afraid changing Starbuckses won't help. Once someone knows who Punky is, the resemblance will be unavoidable .

 

[Hest88]

Although, Babs, I think you have better taste in clothing than Punky does!

 

[babblingal]

I suppose I could follow suit as Lawgem did, and post Punky as my avitar! LOL

Yes, thankfully I don't *dress* like Punky!

So AGBF, you think this will only happen at Starbuck's or other establishments as well? Now that *retro* is the rage, I am beginning to become fearful of the Punky resemblance!

 

[Richard Sherwood]

----------
My husband has been active duty for over a decade and we have only had to move twice.
----------

That means he must be very good at what he does, and they don't want to lose him.

Where are the two places you have moved to?

 

[canadiangrrl]

Babs, your story really struck a chord in me because I'm marrying a Lt. Colonel in the USAF next year.

I know jack about the military and the fact that you're not the typical military wife really resonates - I have no intention of being one, either, and Mr. Canadiangrrl seems to like that just fine.

He's also been in one place (AAFB) for the past six years, but we may end up moving in the next two years. Kinda nervous about that.

It's great to see that non-typical military wives can not only survive, but thrive. Thanks for bolstering my confidence!

 

[babblingal]

Richard,
In alphabetical order we have lived in Illinois, Kansas and Louisiana. Oh, and my husband did train for a year or so in California, but that was prior to us being married. My husband is a person who can put up with the rules and order. It's funny because I joke with him that he is "anal retentive man" and people who only know him from the military think it is due to his military background. Little do they realize it has always been his personality and it is more due to his German mother who whacked his tush with a spoon when he made mistakes! I knew my husband prior to the military, so I *know* the military did not create this monster. I am Oscar to his Felix!
CG, I sent you a PM : )

I have found that non-traditional spouses are able to find other like minded spouses and this has been what keeps me sane in an insane world! LOL

I did however feel that the film "We Were Soldiers" was an excellent depiction of what life feels like during wartime for a military spouse. I could completely relate to this film as it hit how I felt during the Gulf War and how it felt to be married to someone who was involved in war. I didn't think it would hit me that strongly, but it did. I feel it is one of the best war films made, at least made with a valuable insite into "spouse life".

 

[canadiangrrl]

Babs, I responded.

Thanks!

I saw "We Were Soldiers", too, and I believe I read the book as well a few years back. I try not to think about it. Denial is not a river in Egypt...it's alive and well, thank you very much.

 

[babblingal]

Ya know, it's an interesting phenomenon, but since I was reared by two college professors who were very much "peace,love,freedom, happiness", I always had a very clear view of what it would mean if our country went to war and my husband had to go. During the Gulf war I remember all of these doe eyed new brides who had lulled themselves into a post Vietman era of thinking "our world will never see war in my lifetime" and then Whammo! Their husbands got deployed and they went into shock.

We got married in 1990. 6 weeks before our wedding he was deployed. He got back 2 weeks before the wedding, we were able to go on a honeymoon and we were back 8 weeks and he was deployed again for another 6 weeks. We spent the first year of our marriage being apart from one another for 10 months. Not all at once, but all the time added up, equalled 10 months.

I felt I was lucky compared to my friend who was married to a navy sub guy. She couldn't see/talk to her husband for months. This was pre-internet times!

While I bet you have some denial working for you, I would also venture to bet that you have a better grip on things than you realize as your liberal background will make it easier to cope than had you been brought up in home environment where nothing was debated nor questioned. I also was reared in the midst of heated political debates and theological discussions.