Let the Journey Begin....But which way?

Let the journey begin...that used to be one of the slogans for the US Navy. Now apparently we are a Global Force for Global Good. I haven't always been a Navy wife and in some way I still don't feel like one. When my husband and I met he had just gotten out of the Navy. We moved cross country and started a life together. Then 9/11 happened. Just less than 2 years after he was officially out. So he decided to go back in, at least as a reservist. I said o.k. We moved back to the East Coast, had a baby, built a house and one weekend a month I stood in the driveway waving bye to my weekend warrior. My husband finished school received his Masters and said to me one day that he wanted to put in a commission package for Officer. I said o.k. My husband used to say to me that I needed to put more effort into learning about the Navy. I had no idea what the difference between the gold leaf or silver leaf was or even which kind of leaf it really was. My first greatest accomplishment was learning what the different color stickers meant. I quickly learned blue was Officer. My response to him was always that I was a part time Navy Wife and if he was a full time Naval Officer I would be a full time Navy Wife. I have recently come to eat those words. He has decided to go back to Active Duty Navy. I said o.k. Now three kids later another house and a dog I have to learn to be a full time Navy Wife. Which brings me to my title. The journey has begun but which way to I go? I have so much to learn, so much to do and so many questions. For instance, why is everything in the military an acronym? Isn't it just easier to say what you mean? By the time I figure out what the heck the acronym stands for I forgot what I was looking for. I no longer am identified by my name, I am identified by my husband's social security number and the name: Dependent. I am told that I can be found somewhere on a piece of paper called a Page 2. So if I'm page 2 who's page 1? I must have on me at ALL time's a card, known as the military ID that yes has my name on it but also my husbands social security number and the word dependent. And while I'm driving onto base trying to drown out the screams of my three children I must now dig through my wallet to present this to a very intimidating man in uniform with a side arm. No matter how many times I do this I still break out in a little sweat as I hold it up for him to see. My husband is such a natural Military man that he forgets to tell me the little details. For example, did you know that at exactly 0800 every day of every year you are to stop whatever it is your doing while on base? I learned that the hard way. Apparently it's colors, and even if your driving your expected to stop. That information would have been good to have ahead of time. I chalk it up to lessons learned. I have so many more to learn. Thank goodness for google!