Morning Walk

Well another day closer to Al coming home!!!!

It is a beautiful morning, cool and slightly overcast, that California June Gloom in May......I have just taken Jess for a long walk around our base housing area, always fun as you get to chat with folks you haven't seen for a while, watch out for rabbits, squirrels and the occasional rattlesnake and take in the sites and sounds.

So many of the families have Marines away, it is a surprise to see a man around! These are amazing women and the more you learn about them the more you admire their sacrifice. Not only have most given up promising careers to follow their Marines from base to base and sometimes from country to country, but they always have a smile on their face and an encouraging word to help get their neighbors through.
For example just on my street we have one mum (don't get upset that is how it is spelt in Australia) that has a PHD and 3 Masters, another finishes her Masters degree in two weeks and she has a new baby and a 3 year old, is a KVC (Key Volunteer Coordinator and now the Club President. Another wife has 4 wonderful kids in a 3 bedroom home, a degree in Special Education and is a KVA. Others home school! With all their other commitments they all still have time to volunteer, take kids to sports, help friends and support their spouse. Ok, so they are not superhuman and their are mums in the civilian world with hectic schedules as well, but they don't lay their head on their pillow every night and pray that their husband is not in harms way, that he will email them soon, or perhaps call and that he stays safe until he comes home.

A friend recently was faced by the loss of Marine in her husbands unit. She visited the family, taking groceries, playing games with the children and providing support, all the while she said she was shaking inside and wondering how she would hold it together. We watch our friends do these amazing things, knowing that in all our hearts we have the same fears and dare not speak about the unthinkable.

These women are so strong, resilient and supportive. But I sometimes wonder at what cost, sometimes the carers need a little care as well.