Military Life

Last week, or the week before I forget, we had another big dump of snow. In the morning I slipped on the ice letting the dog out. I then drove Jeff to work, and started shoveling. I had to quit shoveling after about a 1/2 an hour because Mandy was taking care of Lily and she had to get ready for school. So I went into the house before finishing my required shoveling duties. I was risking getting a ticket for not having my area shoveled but someone has to take care of Lily. I was in such a bad mood by then. The combination of the fall and the shoveling had caused every last inch of my body to be incredibly sore.

That morning I had to drive Mandy to school because she was bringing a project that was too bulky for the bus. About an hour after I had given up on shoveling the three of us, went out to get in the car and drive Mandy to school. We discovered that one of my neighbors had finished up my shoveling. I have no idea who it was but the shoveling was done. I was so grateful and delighted that it effected my entire day. The entire day I just enjoyed every minute. Lily and I laughed more than normal, we danced and sang and acted like nuts. That is typically what it is like living on a military base. One of the treasures of living on an overseas military base is that everyone is family. Even if you don't know someone's name, they are here and they are family. I cannot count the times someone has gone out of their way for me, a stranger or a friend. We embrace each other regardless if we would be friends with that person in a different circumstance.

This lead us to feel very safe in our community. Mandys spends the night at people's houses who I have never met. Girls whose parents have never met me spent the night here. Kids run the streets without supervision. It reminds me of when I was a kid, when you just went outside to play.

So when I read this article it really upset me. A man from my community has been jailed for downloading child pornography. A man with 18 years military service, a father, a husband, one of us. I realize that maybe that sense of security that I feel is false. I hate the thought of having to build a brick wall around my daughters. I hate that I have not escaped the ugliness of the world, that it is here and everywhere.