The weirdest part about going to Alabama and visiting Andrew comes when we go to events where he’s in uniform and I’m not. We worked together for six years, side by side and in uniform and showing up at things dressed as a civilian, playing the part of his wife instead of his fellow Soldier and co-working Soldier-in-crime is a very, very strange thing and I have decided that I’m not very good at playing the part of his wife at military functions. I show up and immediately feel displaced and awkward, not knowing my place in situations like Family Day or WOCS graduation receptions. I also feel vaguely like a spy, like I’ve got some sort of secret identity that I’m not sharing with anyone there. I am this in between thing, not totally a family member, but not a Soldier there either.
So going to Family Day was neat. It was an adventure. I showed up at the meeting spot for family members immediately awkward and slightly terrified. I don’t live in Alabama like most of the other wives, so while everyone else greeted their friends, I hid in the car and waited and watched because hiding out tends to suit me better than making small talk with strangers. We convoyed over to the flight line and I got choked up the moment I saw the little helicopters flying around the air field, knowing that Andrew was, that very second, flying one of them.
It was more emotional that I expected, that immediate throat lump forming the very second I spotted the first TH-67 helicopter, but I there I was, driving my rental car down a bumpy country road, tears in my eyes from the pride and the love and the feelings, all brought up from spotting a little orange and white aircraft.
We got a quick safety brief and I moseyed around waiting for Andrew to be done flying helicopters so he could come and hang out with me.
And then there he was, walking toward me looking like some dude who flies helicopters.
We spent the next hour or so being together, eating lunch, giggling at each other, climbing the tower to look out at all the little helicopters flying around all over the place and checking out the static display helicopter that had been set up for visiting family members to check out and climb in.
Once he was with me I felt far less out of place, although no less awkward, because awkward is my normal.
And then he had to go back to work, back to flying a helicopter around the skies of Alabama and I went back to his house to edit photos and to put his laundry away, stuffing myself into the wife role even if it comes unnaturally.
I’m so, so thankful that I got to be there. Andrew thought it would be silly and I’m helplessly weird in situations like these, but it was nice. There wasn’t an agenda or a plan and so we just got to spend time together and I got a better idea of what his days look like in Alabama, which was maybe the best part. He knows what my days here looks like, seeing as he used to do the same job I’m doing, but I’ve had little to go on beyond our short nightly conversations as to what his days in Alabama look like and the time I spent him at Family Day brought me up to speed. I left the air field feeling incredibly proud of Andrew and incredibly thankful to be married to a dude who is so hilarious, handsome and amazing.
(And my next post will not be about icky love stuff at all because GAH – LOVE IS ICKY!)
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Some things:
Andrew is even more adorable as some dude who flies a helicopter!
You are adorable always.
I LOVE YOUR SCARF.
Re: the awkward comment–the years Scott and I were long distance, I would get shy every time I’d see him after a long hiatus and feel sort of awkward…do you get that feeling too when you go down to Alabama? It was always so weird as we had been together (and lived together) for a few years at that point!
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Love is not icky. It’s reassuring to me, to know that wonderful, loving relationships exist.
Thanks again for sharing your adventures with us.
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THAT PHOTO of the two of you – adorbs. Awkward is my normal too!
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I hope you don’t mind me saying this but your husband is handsome and you two as a couple? You could win awards. I love that photo of you two; you just look all kinds of in love. Thanks for sharing this with us!
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I am so glad you were able to there, to see him fly, to feel that awkwardness for a little while and then less awkward when he was with you 🙂 Love is beautiful, especially yours.
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I am so proud of you both – of Andrew for following his dream (I remember the first time I met him, and he mentioned helicopters then), and you, Terra, for Loving him enough to let him leave for so long so he could follow that dream! I think I might just frame that picture of the two of you – your Love for each other just shines so bright! Thank you for the smiles you’ve brought me today – and many days – by sharing your adventures in words and pictures. Miss you guys! <3
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i love that andrew is just as cool as you are.
ps. i am obsessed with your photography!
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aw you guys are just so cute together, love these photos and so glad you had such a good time together.
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I think that photo of Andrew smiling in his helmet is one of my favorites of him. He looks genuinely happy. and his attempt at Dancer pose needs a little work. but not bad in combat boots. Also did you notice yourself in the reflection of his glasses? so cool. I can only imagine how proud you felt watching the helicopters come in knowing he was flying one of them.
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I just love your pictures and posts! 🙂 You take great pictures lady!
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You two are adorable and you take the most amazing pictures. I think you should be the official photographer of everything ever. I’m sure you have time for this, right?
Also, I can’t think of a situation wherein I can personally relate, but I kind of get what you mean, when you said it felt weird to be there not as a soldier but as a civilian. It’s hard to be in a place where we normally fill a certain role, and then, not. It’s hard to onlook when you’re used to being part of it. If that makes any sense?