Many people think family is blood. A few understand that family is people who can go long periods of time without speaking (think years) knowing a simple phone call can have someone on the way without regards to the time of day or what they may have going on in their lives. I have family all over the world. I can pick up the phone and call a buddy of mine in Seattle to let them know I will be in town tomorrow. I will have a place to stay, a vehicle to drive and I don't have to worry about food. I may have not seen him in 15 years, but because of our experiences and the bonds that we share by serving in the military together, I know that I will always have somewhere to stay when I get to town.
This is an unwritten code of military life. I have had people that I was stationed with 10 years ago call me and let me know they would be in Little Rock in a few days. I have managed to make time for them and assist with anything they may need. The wife is retired military, so she has her own family that will call us when they are in town; payment is never offered or accepted. Family who comes to stay with us know that if we are near their house, where ever it may be, then more than likely we are coming over for dinner and they need to set out some extra plates.
As far as traditional blood family goes, we would joke that if Uncle Sam wanted us to have spouses or kids, then he would have issued us some. I was fortunate enough to be home for my kids birthdays. I took both of them to school on their first day of Kindergarten. I got to put money under their pillows from the tooth fairy. I understand I am an exception to this type of interactions with my kids. On the other hand, I had to call them on several Christmas' mornings to talk to them about their presents from Santa. I missed out on school plays, father daughter dances, and sleep overs.
My kids didn't ask to be in the military. They both understood that when the phone rang, and I had to go and that was that. Holidays were celebrated on days when I was home, not by the calendar, or by someone else' time line. The wife had the house decorated with a Christmas tree, lights, gingerbread houses, and garland one year in March because I was deployed overseas for the Holidays.
This is an unwritten code of military life. I have had people that I was stationed with 10 years ago call me and let me know they would be in Little Rock in a few days. I have managed to make time for them and assist with anything they may need. The wife is retired military, so she has her own family that will call us when they are in town; payment is never offered or accepted. Family who comes to stay with us know that if we are near their house, where ever it may be, then more than likely we are coming over for dinner and they need to set out some extra plates.
As far as traditional blood family goes, we would joke that if Uncle Sam wanted us to have spouses or kids, then he would have issued us some. I was fortunate enough to be home for my kids birthdays. I took both of them to school on their first day of Kindergarten. I got to put money under their pillows from the tooth fairy. I understand I am an exception to this type of interactions with my kids. On the other hand, I had to call them on several Christmas' mornings to talk to them about their presents from Santa. I missed out on school plays, father daughter dances, and sleep overs.
My kids didn't ask to be in the military. They both understood that when the phone rang, and I had to go and that was that. Holidays were celebrated on days when I was home, not by the calendar, or by someone else' time line. The wife had the house decorated with a Christmas tree, lights, gingerbread houses, and garland one year in March because I was deployed overseas for the Holidays.