Entry #24: January 4, 2006
Camp Buehring, Kuwait (Somewhere near the Iraq border)
When I graduated high school, I was single. When I graduated college, I was single. When I left for Germany, I was single. When I left for Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was single. I suppose it’s not hard to see a pattern here. Being continuously on the move, it’s difficult to maintain a relationship. I’ve always thought that a relationship would tie me down, hold me back from my goals and what I was after. Now I’m not so sure that is true.
It’s not that I don’t have the marketability. I’m young, fit, still have hair on my head, have a steady job, and I can cook, dance, read a wine list and choose the right one (but I can’t clean, ask my Mom), all things that I think young ladies seek in a partner. I can charm the heck out of anyone if I so choose. Just a wink and a smile, my dear, and all I have to do is make sure I got the right test on my line to reel you in. I think it is staying power. I don’t stay anywhere too long.
Yeah, I’ve been places. Been to more than half the states and nine countries. I’ve lived in three different countries, four if you count Kuwait. But then again, I say “I have”, not “we have”. Marriage is such a great institution. I’ve got to look no further than my parents for proof. They’ve been married for over 30 years and I love watching them. They’ve done almost everything together. And I envy that. What an example for my brothers and me.
I’ve missed a lot of weddings this past year while I was in Germany. That’s one of the biggest drawbacks of living so far away. I’ll probably miss some more while I’m here in the desert. The funny thing is, I actually like going to weddings. They’re a lot of fun. And no, I’m not talking Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson type stuff a la Wedding Crashers, I’m saying you see a lot of people you don’t see too often and you see everybody in a good mood enjoying themselves. By the way, if you have a wedding coming up, don’t count me out til the actual date. No real reason for writing all this, just putting some thoughts out there. And so the Soldier’s life continues…
I used to believe that marriage would diminish me, reduce my options, that you had to be someone less to live with someone else when, of course, you have to be someone more.