Waiting to wait

I hate waiting. I am probably one of the most impatient people you will ever meet, had my husband known this maybe he wouldn't have decided to go back into the Navy after we were first married. Why you ask? Because one of the most famous phrases ever heard "hurry up and wait" had to come from the Navy. At least that is what I think. Anyway, I had a doctors appointment today and I was sitting in the room waiting for the doctor and is any building on a base the walls are paper thin. I was put in one of the last rooms at the end of the hall and as I went into the room I saw several corpsmen standing on the back wall. I went into the waiting room not thinking anything of it and sat down. My corpsman took my blood pressure a second time and left me there to sit and wait. Oh Fun!

Little did I know I was going to get a life lesson and even a better understanding of what I was feeling earlier in the day. Remember in my last post How I felt like I had a sense of belonging in the military housing. Well hold on to that thought for a moment if you would.

As I sat there I couldn't help but hear this female, talking to her Junior Sailors. She spoke about a few subjects, but one that really stuck out with me was her speech about taking care of one another. "You will sometimes find you are all each other has." "When you need support don't be afraid to ask and if you see someone struggling offer them help. That is what a good shipmate does." It seems like common sense right? But for many people it isn't. Many people see you when you are at your weakest and kick you while you are down. I guess that was another reason the Navy lifestyle felt so right. It was rare that I was kicked. More times than I can remember I had someone there to lift me up. Whether it was to be there to lend an ear, to help out with a meal, or just there when you needed them. These days it seems people need a reason to talk to you whether it be to gossip, or just try to find out what they can use against you.

Maybe that is why we got along so well, we knew each others weaknesses because we pretty much all had the same ones. We all faced alot of the same struggles, so we had a better understanding of how to face the challenges that seemed like mountains standing in our way. There are days when I miss those close friendships. Most of them I have kept over the years and continue to talk to them, but the miles that are far between us cause a great divide. It's not like walking next door and crying on your friends shoulder. Sometimes when I pick up the phone to call now, I ask myself if I will be a bother, is this really worth calling them over. I still feel that connection to them, but the distance changes that connection over time. Maybe I am just afraid of what the future holds and trying to make new friends. I know there comes a time when we will all be hurt. Even at times by the ones we love, but my prayer is that people would see that words really do hurt and I will never find it humerous when people try to hurt my family, including myelf. Life is too short to surround yourself with people who just don't care. The hardest part is finding those who do, but I am up for the challenge!