8 May: Military Spouse Appreciation Day

From my amazing husband, Brad

Well, I have to admit on our final day in Hono, when Aloha Tower (vessel traffic service for Honolulu Harbor) delayed our outbound transit (a milk delivery truck was involved too) I took the opportunity to call my wonderful wife. I was greeted with "Do you know what day it is?" I replied "ummm May 8th" she retorted "Military spouse appreciation day! (pause) psst...that's your cue."

Needless to say I was a little taken back by the idea, but it is a valid point. Our patrol was just extended, and let's look at some of the things that my wonderful spouse has done in my year back afloat...

By June 30th (one calendar year since reporting) she will have been in Kodiak w/o me for 219 days. She has set up our HHG's and entire trip cross country because I was TAD, taken delivery of all of our stuff, put up with being married to "Ops", turned our house into a home, mowed the lawn with a manual push mower, learned to play with the weed eater, shoveled snow, hiked, trained a puppy, helped the neighbors, made new friends, test driven a new truck, eaten fresh rabbit, caught halibut, fixed the yard, planted trees, planned a friend's baby shower, kept the family informed of everything since I am deficient, attended weddings (w/o me), seen the family, hosted big mama, and most importantly put up with my crap and loved me unconditionally. I don't know how to thank her for all of this other than letting everyone else know how wonderful my wife and best friend is.

So do me a favor, friends and family who read this, call Christina and thank her for making my time serving this country that much easier.