Who has got your back?

I am never one to wish ill will on anyone but in this case it's a little hard to not join in with the census. The past few months have been crazy- a trans global move, leaving the kids in Texas to finish the school year as we waited for our house to be completed, dealing with the delivery of our stuff & of course the missing couch... It's been a bit stressful. Then you add the BIG issue- another upcoming deployment!

I've blogged about it a little bit, but it's been shrouded with plenty of uncertainty. We have a monitor (person who does job placement for Marines) who has a god complex and feels he needs to stick it to everyone, then we have my husband who has done MORE than his share of deploying and combat action who is demanding that he get what is rightfully owed to him: time with his family.

If you go back through my blogs, I think I may have written about Derrick asking if we could expedite our order to NC because of the timing and all that went down with the embassy situation. When he talked to his monitor the guy acted like a jerk and told him to suck it up. (Apparently that is one of his key phrases) He then told us that we couldn't move any earlier because the unit Derrick was going to be going to was currently deployed.

Shortly before arriving in NC we found out that they weren't, but they were gearing up to. Derrick was arriving just in time to fall into their pre-deployment training schedule. The problem is that he still has over a year left on his dwell time from his last deployment so if they choose to deploy him he is entitled to certain benefits/incentives.

So the fight for getting what is rightfully owed to him began. His new command understood the position he was in, but didn't understand why his monitor would put him OR them in a situation like this. They tried everything they could to move him within the regiment to avoid him having to deploy- because oddly enough- the units (most of them) care about their Marines and families. The monitors, eh not so much.

When they were unable to find a replacement for Derrick within the regiment they had to contact the monitor. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate his Sergeant Major and how he went to bat for Derrick. He (SgtMaj) called Derrick's monitor and asked to give Derrick orders to another unit because Derrick was owed/entitled to his dwell time. The monitor told the Sgt Maj that Derrick needed to suck it up and deploy again. That is when he got pissed and told him no. He needed to look at the books again, see that Derrick has spent more than enough time deployed and he needs to look at all the people who have have never deployed but have been saying for the past 10 years that they've 'been trying but the chance has never come up' and give them their opportunity.

Like I said, I am elated, so thrilled that someone really, I mean really went to bar for Derrick and it paid off. Next week he'll check into his new unit!

(& will be able to enjoy his full dwell time.)


P.S. the 'ill will' sentiment... ;).
I've heard from a birdie that some might wish something horrid, like syphilis on one particular job placement personnel. Danny, if you're reading this, you can attest to the suggested desired locations of disease breakout.

Marines are so funny.

Carpe Diem

About once or twice a year, since we've graduated into the internet age, I receive this chain e mail about a woman who in essence hoards all her "good" things for a special occasion only to die never wearing that special silk blouse or using that expensive perfume. I don't know that I've ever actually forwarded that e mail onto anyone but I've carried the message with me through the years.

Over the past four years this story has come to mind often, in my life as well as others. I took it as a lesson and stepped out of my comfort zone a time or two in order to say "I did that" verses "I could have but.."

With the chaos that military life brings it's hard to not seize every day and cherish all the special moments and items but for civilians (& some military families too) I think they sometimes forget.

One person comes to mind right now, but I don't want to blast anyone in particular so I'll be vague. That way you, if this isn't about you, can still apply it to your life without feeling like you took a message intended for someone else. :)

When you want to do something or see someone do it. Do it when you say you will. Do it when it comes to mind, when it's on your heart. If you think you don't have time, make time. Things that are important to you are worth making the time for. You never know when you'll lose that opportunity. Life is short. Live life seizing those moments, not letting them slip through your fingers. The only thing that separates "I did" and "I wish I had" are actions.

We know to well how quickly things can change. Moves happen, deployments happen, life and even death happens and when it does all you have is what you made of those moments.
So make those moments count.
Wear that special silk blouse.
Spray a spritz of that expensive perfume.
and live life!