Our plans changed. We cancelled our flights home to Seattle yesterday and we wait to see what happens with Chris’ mom in the ICU. We have the luxury of minimizing the stress in our lives because I have no conventional job to return to and Chris can work from anywhere. Our flexibility is something I rarely had when I was in the Navy. If there was ever a family emergency, it was up to the Navy to decide (via the Red Cross), whether or not the “emergency” was worth letting me leave my duties to attend to the situation. Deaths always warranted a temporary release from duty. Births, graduations and weddings on the other hand did not. I had heard rumors of some people getting to return a few weeks early from a deployment overseas if it meant they could be there for a scheduled C-section or the like. For the most part though, life continued in the “real world” while I floated in my Navy world bubble across the sea.
Now I get to be wherever I want to be whenever I choose to be there. I pack my laptop. I discover all the local healthy grocery stores and restaurants and Starbucks. I never have to be alone if I don’t want to be. I can work, exercise, shop, visit family/friends. My job is to be happy, healthy and provide good company for Chris.
(Photo by me in Puerto Rico)
Rebecca says
And you earned that. You enjoy it!
Christina Warren says
Thank you!! Some things will hopefully never be taken for granted again. You’ve earned it too my fellow former sailor!