I almost hate to say this.

In the 22 years that Gunner was in the Army......are you ready for this......they never screwed up his pay.  Never ever.  During the almost 17 years that we have been married, we have been paid once a month....religiously....and lived happily ever after.  Well sort of....

When you retire, your last paycheck is delayed--anywhere from 2-6 weeks.  How's that for planning purposes? 

It's totally crazy, but I know so many people that look at Finance with such disdain, that I will not complain.  I happen to appreciate their timeliness. 

It's official, I am married to a civilian.  A full time student.  A retired GI.  I feel old. 

Sad part is that I have to get a new ID card, and I don't want to waste time off of work to get it done.  Here's hoping that I don't get sick!  (knock on wood)

I thought we could celebrate, but real life called and Gunner is off doing the student thing. 

I'm sad to think that it has all come to an end, but also thankful that we have survived it.  For the 18 years that we have been together, I have always been second priority.  Always.  Sure I know he loves me most of all, but there is no arguing that you are always going to be pushed to the side if the Army calls.

The Army doesn't care if you just had a baby, your dad passed away, your lawn needs to be mowed, or that your inlaws are coming to visit.  She also doesn't care that you are in the hospital, or that you have to somehow figure out how to be 3 places at once. 

For the FIRST time, I am his first priority.  Well of course there are three kiddos too, but I don't have to fight for his attention.  He won't deploy.  He won't get late middle of the night phone calls to check the alert roster (rest assured, in 22 years, it never failed).  There will be no lockdowns due to missing items.  No one will write me a ticket if my lawn isn't mowed.  He won't be gone for years at a time.  I can make plans, and the Army won't interfere at the last minute.

There will be no PT.  No piles of dirty ACU's to wash.  No mandatory fun days.  No deployments.  No Staff Duty.  No CQ.  No being responsible for Soldiers that make poor decisions. 

Not everything is peaches and cream.  There will be no dressing up for balls.  No homecomings.  No ACU's.  Will I ever move again?????  Not to mention, the boy will be home all.the.time.  (Come on now, he's been home off and on for 18 years, plus gone for 5 years, a girl gets used to that!  Surely I am not the only one that treasures some alone time!  (For the record, the year deployments suck!)) 

We are adjusting to our new norm.  I go to work and he goes to school and takes care of the kids.  I can actually make plans, and then at the last minute not have to cancel due to the Army.  The lawn needs to be mowed, and I just point it out.  I haven't taken the trash out since he returned home from Afghanistan.  I've learned that I have a love/hate relationship with the Army.

When push comes to shove though.......I will always love the Army and the life it provided for the last 18 years that I've been with Gunner.  For that I am grateful, but I am going to miss it......terribly......