Alot going on

Excitement never stops around The Edge.

I had a few ideas for blog posts lined up for this week when the Navy decided to spring another one on us....or did we spring one on them? Still not clear on that one.

A detailer is a person over in Tennessee that our active duty calls to help them with getting orders for their next duty station. At least that's how I understand it. My husband called his detailer to discuss his retirement back in January and he was given the choice of November of this year to August of next year (2010). We talked about it and chose August of next year. Reason being, the kids could finish another full year of school and we wouldn't be rushed to plan a retirement ceremony and take care of all the paperwork that is involved with leaving the military.

Tuesday, The Man found out his retirement request had been denied. That happens from time to time. This was the last time. Some times there are reasons that half way make sense and other times you wonder if the detailers took their work to the local bar and tried to figure out things over a bunch of drinks.

The Man had finally reached his limit. We decided that maybe November of this year wouldn't be so bad after all.

Then the panic set in. That's not far away at all. In fact, we basically have six months to get our stuff straight and call it good.

We were up until 1 a.m. Tuesday night writing The Man's resume so he could attend a job fair in Jacksonville the next day. Time to find a job!

We are both floundering and not really sure of our footing at this time. I am slightly stressed over what to do with my children. Do I start them in school here, only to go for 4-8 weeks before taking them out and moving them to another school? Oh, the thoughts that race through your mind.

More thinking about it tells me that the girls will be fine doing that. Paige seems to think it'll be a type of torture and as much as she loves her school and the people there, she doesn't know if she can handle that stress. She may just have to. Makenna is my " go with the flow" kid. If we do that fine. If I tell her to go pack up this minute? Well, that's fine, too.

The Boy. That's my issue and heartfelt concern. I spoke with Rose yesterday at his session and told her what was going on and my concerns. She smiled and assured me that going to school for a few weeks, then moving would not hurt him. She said as an ADHD kid, he needs the structure of the classroom more than he doesn't. That means I go register him next week for 5K at his sister's school and start him on time. In a year? This will only be a memory to him....and probably vague at that. Military kids do this every day. Shoot, there's been 2 or 3 kids out of The Boy's class that have done that this year. It happens. I just didn't want it to happen to my kids.

I find myself following my husband around asking what he thinks about this part of the retirement ceremony....about putting in his resume for this company.....basically bugging the crap out of him. He wants no part of me doing that. He needs time to gather his thoughts and formulate his next plan of action. While I am full speed ahead wanting to get as much done as possible, I have not let him have a chance to grieve. He has to grieve. So, I stand on the sidelines tapping my foot and constantly checking my watch, sighing impatiently every 30 seconds.

I have yet to allow my own self to grieve. I love this town and the people who are in it. I will miss it with every fiber of my being. I can't stop and think about that quite yet because my "moment" might take longer than the time I have allotted for such a thing. Even now I'm moving on to something else because my heart started aching.

When the poop hit the fan on Tuesday, I squinted at The Man and told him: "One thing is for sure....life with you has been anything but dull." I have to say again, I'm glad I didn't get into this military lifestyle at a younger age. I don't know if I would have ended up with nerves of steel or a nervous breakdown.

Now I have to figure out how to be it all. The positive smiling face for my kids as we start yet another adventure in our lives. The pom-pom shaking cheerleader who rallies behind The Man- telling him he can do anything, be anything. Right now, I don't know if I'm capable. But, I will do it and I will do it with style and grace.

So, there you have it. Instead of 15 months until retirement, we have 8 months. Six months really, if you count him going out on terminal leave.

Crap.

And that's how we roll at The Edge. Full speed with goggles and hollering the whole way.