While there are a lot of great things about being a part of a military community, it also has its downsides. Frequent separations from those we love due to field time, TDY, or deployments; moving every two or three years to another state or another country; infrequent visits with family, maybe only once a year; changing schools, addresses, telephone numbers, licenses, cars.
Sometimes, it can feel like military life has a lot of darkness.
But when you see the light, something amazing happens.
I currently live overseas in Germany at a very small installation. When coming here, people often warn you that if you don’t want to be seen dressed in your gym clothes without your hair and makeup done, then either do yourself up or don’t go out. You’re that likely to run into people you’ve not only seen before, but that you know.
Recently, I was having one of those days that tested me as a mother of three.
My husband and I had an appointment at our installation’s Child Development Center to register our children with various child care programs and to sit through an orientation. Because there were countless toys to be played with while the program manager spoke, the kids did great. Of course, they also didn’t want to leave those toys when it was time to skedaddle on out of there. There was some fussing as we left, then more fussing as we tried to load into the car.
“How about we go to Burger King and get some cheeseburgers?” I asked my 4-year-old and 2-year-old. The response was big smiles and a resounding, “Cheeseburgers!” My 4-month-old baby was hungry and, as usual, fell asleep while eating. I loaded him up, hopped in, and made the short drive to the PX food court.
We arrived and placed our order while my oldest two briefly stood quietly at my side. As we made our way to our chosen table, the complaints began.
“I’m hungry!”
“Juice, Mommy!”
“We eat soon?”
“Where’s our food, Mommy?”
As I got the children situated and frantically dug through my diaper bag for a bottle to console my crying baby, an angel came to our table.
Well, she wasn’t an actual angel, but she definitely seemed like one to me.
She approached the table, reached out for the empty cup I had yet to fill, and asked, “What can I get you to drink?” She went and filled my cup, brought it back, and then went and got my tray of food to bring back to the table.
I was shocked. I thanked her profusely, but it didn’t seem like enough. She gave me a quick look, a small smile, and said, “I’ve been there.”
And off she went.
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