I married my husband right before he deployed, if you read our story you know this, well I got inspired reading, Aprons and Anchors by Nickohl.
Let me just put this out there, I WAS NOT A GOOD NAVY WIFE. I'm a great wife, but a horrible navy wife.
So our first deployment was 321 days long, its the 3rd longest in Navy history. And it SUCK. For the first couple months I was in college, and keeping our marriage a secret. I didn't understand how important sending boxes was. The first one I sent wasn't so great, but I sent it. I wrote letters but felt like I said the same thing in all of them. And he wouldn't get them until a month later.
I sent a kick ass angry bird box, and a Christmas box. Yup only 3.
We were lucky we got to Facebook chat but when he was on I was s always at one of my jobs, (I waitressed and was doing nails). I enjoyed my life, I was a good wife, I always told him how much I love him and missed him so he knew, but I didn't understand that being a navy wife, I had to step up my game. Half way through deployment he became very depressed, he wanted to end our marriage because he didn't think we would work out. I've never cried so much in my life. I cried to Teri because I knew she would say the right thing.
I really thought I was going kiss our marriage goodbye and we had only spend two day's together marriage. The rest as apart. I told him no matter what he said I was going to his homecoming to pick him up. I wasn't letting him have no one there when the ship came in.
Finely when he got home things got better, we talked about everything and got it in order. And we were happy. We got pregnant and became even more happy. But I was still a horrible navy wife, I hated under ways, and stupid duty days. All I wanted was to spend time with my husband. But it was always to much to ask for. We spent every holiday apart, and I spent Christmas on ship 9 months pregnant because I wanted to spend time with him. I have no idea rank from rate. No idea what half the acronyms mean. And the saddest part is, I Don't Care! At all. Because no matter what his job is I'm his wife, navy or not, I don't feel special being a navy wife. I feel special being Martinez's wife. I'm supportive of his career, no matter what it is. (I just don't always understand it)
If I could go back I would have been a better navy wife, but I think it really helped strengthen our marriage. It helped us understand its hard on both sides in different ways.
Now the question I get asked a lot, aren't you going to miss being a Navy Wife? And all I say is NOPE! My husband will be official all mine again, and I don't have to share him.
Don't get me wrong I will miss the NEX and tax free everything. But I love my husband more than the NEX (most days) :) just kidding.
*Stephanie
P.s. don't you feel better about yourself, lol
http://ApronsAndAnchors.blogspot.com/ - Nickohl's blog.
