Dear America,
I’m pretty sure you don’t know me although you’re probably convinced that you do. You’ve seen me (or someone like me) on the news, in the paper or on a Lifetime tv show. You might have witnessed our tearful airport good-bye or clapped at our reunion. You might spot me by my bumper sticker, license plate or “Red T-shirt on Friday”. It might be my accent or longing for Dunkin Donuts that gives away the fact that I’m not from around here. Another military wife.
I’m not just another military wife though. Actually, none of us are. There are things you don’t know about us. Things that you can’t see in twenty seconds on the news or find in a front page photo. There are things that are hidden in the tearful goodbyes and forgotten in the sweet hellos. I am more than a bumper sticker, a red t-shirt, a northeast accent and a longing for good coffee. We all are and really, I just want you to see that.
We are called the silent ranks but it’s never said why we are silent. I’m here to tell you it’s because we are waiting. We are holding our breath. It’s easy to be silent when you’re afraid to exhale. We wait…on letters, phone calls, emails and homecomings. But there’s more. We wait on training schedules, new commanders, duty rosters and dates for the field. We wait for leave approval and four-day weekends. We wait for dinner or else someone has to eat it cold. We wait for orders, Transportation, dates, and housing. We sometimes have to wait on Christmas, birthday and anniversary celebrations. We wait for phone calls that will always come at the worst possible moments and require you to give up a perfectly wonderful Saturday evening. We wait to see what last-minute changes will happen because we all know there will be some. We wait on life filled with uncertainty. We don’t usually see it that way though. To us, we are loving a soldier and couldn’t imagine life any other way.
Next time you see me, or someone just like me, notice me. And softly remind me to stop holding my breath. It might be the first time I’ve remembered to exhale all day.
Signed, An Army Wife ♥
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Who I am.
Everyone is always talking about "what nationality they are" and I never know what to say because I have no idea. I just tell people that I am "Appalachian American" (which is a fancy way to say redneck, for all you city people.) I did a little research and pretty much came up with nothing. My dreaded maiden name was Earl, which I did find is English, but I pretty much figured that much. But what is more interesting is what I found out about my first name.
Whenever I have a job that requires me to wear a name tag, it obviously says McKenzie, my first name. I can't tell you the amount of comments I get on it. "Is that your first name?" "That's a boy's name!" "That's only a last name, not a first name" and so many others. And my favorite, whenever I was being announced for sports or anything it was always "Earl McKenzie" Seriously people, who in their right mind names their DAUGHER Earl? Nobody, that's who.
Anyways, so I was looking up what McKenzie actually meant, and this is what I found.
-The name “McKenzie” is of Scottish origin and it means “Son of the Handsome One”. It’s a name commonly given to boys.
-Son of Kenneth" is the Irish version of the name McKenzie.
-The true Scottish version of "McKenzie" means fair one (as in light colored skin), gentle, soft speaking.
Now I know where the comments come from. Well they got the "whitey" part right. I do have naturally light colored skin. As for the gentle and soft speaking, I guess my mom didn't do her research. I'm a bit of a loud mouth :D
But aside from all the weird comments, and that nobody can spell it right to save their life, I really do love my name. I like that it is unique and different. And I like having a name that not very many other people do (that I know of). Thank god my mom didn't give me a boring name like... Taylor. Ugh, Idk what I would do with that name ;)
I guess from that point of view, I turned out to be everything I wasn't supposed to be. Which is kind of like my life. Sometimes I feel like a walking contradiction, but I'm okay with that, because that's just life :)
Whenever I have a job that requires me to wear a name tag, it obviously says McKenzie, my first name. I can't tell you the amount of comments I get on it. "Is that your first name?" "That's a boy's name!" "That's only a last name, not a first name" and so many others. And my favorite, whenever I was being announced for sports or anything it was always "Earl McKenzie" Seriously people, who in their right mind names their DAUGHER Earl? Nobody, that's who.
Anyways, so I was looking up what McKenzie actually meant, and this is what I found.
-The name “McKenzie” is of Scottish origin and it means “Son of the Handsome One”. It’s a name commonly given to boys.
-Son of Kenneth" is the Irish version of the name McKenzie.
-The true Scottish version of "McKenzie" means fair one (as in light colored skin), gentle, soft speaking.
Now I know where the comments come from. Well they got the "whitey" part right. I do have naturally light colored skin. As for the gentle and soft speaking, I guess my mom didn't do her research. I'm a bit of a loud mouth :D
But aside from all the weird comments, and that nobody can spell it right to save their life, I really do love my name. I like that it is unique and different. And I like having a name that not very many other people do (that I know of). Thank god my mom didn't give me a boring name like... Taylor. Ugh, Idk what I would do with that name ;)
I guess from that point of view, I turned out to be everything I wasn't supposed to be. Which is kind of like my life. Sometimes I feel like a walking contradiction, but I'm okay with that, because that's just life :)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)