I would like to thank Rick Inman for his recent post as it inspired me to repeat a dedication I made to my wife Andrea during my retirement ceremony speech after 20 years with the USCG.
Andrea lit up my life just as I finished my first 4 years of service. We moved 5 times during the next 16 years. I spent 10 of those 16 years at sea with many months away from home each year. We took up diving after I retired, but I expect she never thought it would become the extreme hobby that it is today. I will never understand how she was able to raise our daughter mostly alone, move the household goods, not get too worried when I was away on a narcotics interdiction patrols where she had no clue as to what ocean I was in. She always watched as we went to sea in stormy conditions - And then she let me take up diving.
Andrea does dive with me when its recreational, but if it's a deep dive or a cavern dive - she sits patiently waiting at the surface for my return - always with a smile. Cave diving is next, and she just smiles and tells me to have fun in that next class.
I have never been good at things like this - but I found an article that has been circulated over the years and is well read in military circles. When I read it I knew it was the definition of my wife. This was what I read and dedicated to her on 14 June 1991.
So Andrea, again this is for you
The Good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. Whats wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40 with an hours notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years. And oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands." The angel shook her head, "Six pair of hands? No way!"
The Lord continued, "Dont worry, we will make other military wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husbands achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say "I understand" when she doesnt and say, I love you regardless".
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently "Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow". "I cant stop now", said the Lord "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her husband from a depot, pier or runway and understand why its important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but its too soft". "She might look soft", replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lords creation. "Theres a leak", she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angels lack of confidence. "What you see is not a leak", he said, "Its a tear." "A tear? What is it there for?", asked the angel. The Lord replied, "Its for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear." "You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didnt put it there".
author unknown
Andrea lit up my life just as I finished my first 4 years of service. We moved 5 times during the next 16 years. I spent 10 of those 16 years at sea with many months away from home each year. We took up diving after I retired, but I expect she never thought it would become the extreme hobby that it is today. I will never understand how she was able to raise our daughter mostly alone, move the household goods, not get too worried when I was away on a narcotics interdiction patrols where she had no clue as to what ocean I was in. She always watched as we went to sea in stormy conditions - And then she let me take up diving.
Andrea does dive with me when its recreational, but if it's a deep dive or a cavern dive - she sits patiently waiting at the surface for my return - always with a smile. Cave diving is next, and she just smiles and tells me to have fun in that next class.
I have never been good at things like this - but I found an article that has been circulated over the years and is well read in military circles. When I read it I knew it was the definition of my wife. This was what I read and dedicated to her on 14 June 1991.
So Andrea, again this is for you
When God Created The Military Wife
The Good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. Whats wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40 with an hours notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years. And oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands." The angel shook her head, "Six pair of hands? No way!"
The Lord continued, "Dont worry, we will make other military wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husbands achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say "I understand" when she doesnt and say, I love you regardless".
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently "Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow". "I cant stop now", said the Lord "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her husband from a depot, pier or runway and understand why its important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but its too soft". "She might look soft", replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lords creation. "Theres a leak", she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angels lack of confidence. "What you see is not a leak", he said, "Its a tear." "A tear? What is it there for?", asked the angel. The Lord replied, "Its for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear." "You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didnt put it there".
author unknown
