Sixteen Years

That's how long the Army Gunner and I have been married, today.

SIXTEEN!  That's almost longer than I lived at home!

We started at Fort Hood, then to Germany, to Fort Lewis, WA, to Fort Hood, then to Fort Carson, CO.

We had three children along the way (one at each duty station, so Gunner wised up and at this place we adopted a dog).

We are on our FIFTH year long deployment, although this last one will be cut short a few months due to his retirement.

We've lost all of our grandparents, and my dad.

I won't even count the number of times he went to the field, JRTC, TDY, or to NTC during our married life.

We've traveled.

We've laughed.

We've cried.

We've made it work.

I'm lucky to have found him on a chance meeting.  

I'm lucky he called the next day--he asked for my number, and I gave it to him, but told him that he couldn't say my name correctly, I would hang up.  Not only did he call exactly when he said he would (a man after my heart), but he pronounced my name correctly.  Whew.

I'm lucky that he loves me. 

(But he better admit, he's pretty damn lucky too!)

Thanks Gunner for a great start with the Army, and a great future WITHOUT THE ARMY!!!