Life with the Marines

1 year later...

If you'll check #6 in the Things I've learned Post (which of course is not exhaustive, but will be added to as toddler allows) you'll see life doesn't turn out as planned..

You see- when we were trying to plan (God laughs while we plan) our lives out for medical school and forward, Larry posed the idea of joining the military to pay for school.

Expecting twins at the time, with little idea of how we were going to support our growing family in addition to private school tuition, we planned that it would be a good idea for him to join.

He approached the Air Force recruiter in the area (since he had already served in the AF) and was told he was too old.

Not one to take "NO" for an answer- he called the number for the Air Force recruiter in the surrounding states, got the same person and the same answer.

So.. weighing the options, he choose to go with the Navy, who didn't tell him he was too old.. THINKING at least he won't be deployed to be "playing in sand" should we still be at war when he's finally done school and residency. We were thinking in the event of war, he'd be safe on a hospital navy ship.

We forgot the Navy plays with Marines. In fact the Navy is the Marines' medical corp. And the Marines call themselves the "men's department" of the Navy.

A detail it might have helped us to remember or learn before signing that fateful dotted line

And when applying for internships, we applied for Navy ones first, putting the one Marine base one on the list, only because we had to put all 5 options on the list and it was higher on the list than Washington State (IMO since I'd be seriously depressed with all that rain..)

BUT

God laughed, we planned, and here we are..

At the farthest point away from family while remaining in the continental US
In a sunny paradise, playing with Marines

And a few things I've learned about live with Marines~

1. Punctuality is a religion here. When things start at 1700, you better get there at 1645 or you're considered late.
2. You can get used to the time designations 1700 and after a year you're no longer doing the math in your head - "uh... 17 minus 12.. oh, that means 5pm"
   
3. When you're late you will be gossiped about by those who aren't
   
4. I will be late to my funeral if it means I have to get my kids dressed/out the door/in car seats/changed from dirty diaper or clothes/run back in the house to get the keys again..
   
5. Gossip happens more on base than in your average high school
6. Unattended Children- living on the compound gives you a sense of security that lets children run unattended
7. When you have to be somewhere on time, there will be 5 jerks who cut you off to get in front of you in line to drive on base without DOD stickers and hold the line up 4 or more minutes per person who cut you off. One of them will then ask for directions someplace difficult to explain how to get there.
   
8. "Break it down Barney Style"
9. Don't expect to find a parking spot or empty shopping cart at the commissary on payday.
10. For the most part, they can make the rest of the US military look like sissies.
11. OOO-RAH!