Monday, October 27, 2008

Semper Gumby




*Please excuse my vent*


The first time I heard a big burly Marine utter the words "Semper Gumby" I laughed (on the inside of course). How could I have known at the time the phrase was not meant to be the least bit funny or amusing? How could I have known that these words, these two silly little words, were words that I would have to learn to live by for the next 20 years?


Always flexible, that's what it means....... ALWAYS flexible.


When Mr. X came home on Friday night and told me that our PCS date had been moved up, yet again, the first thing that came to mind was "Semper Gumby". I told myself to just smile, give him a hug and let him know that it's ok, everything is ok, you can deal with it because you are SEMPER GUMBY.....you are the epitome of flexibility, you are a Marine Corps wife, situations like this are not only expected, they are embraced and dealt with gracefully.


It was not until around midnight that the severity of the information I had just received hit me. I have ONE month, ONE MONTH to move. Why...why....why could "they" not of told us this 2 months ago????? WHY? I thought of being SEMPER GUMBY, then I just thought about GUMBY and then I imagined that GUMBY was "they", and that GUMBY was forcing us to move sooner than expected for no good reason and it made me want to punch him in the face and run him over. I want to be rigid and inflexible! I hate you GUMBY! I hate you and your ugly green body, I hate your stupid little voice and your ability to transport yourself into storybooks! I want to wad you up into an ugly, gooey, green ball and throw you off the top of the Empire State building and watch you get stepped on after you plummet to the ground!


I wish I was able to say, without hesitation, that I am the perfect military wife...... that nothing ever phases me, that I am ALWAYS prepared for the worst/unexpected yet hoping for the best, and that I have a permanently genuine smile plastered on my face regardless of the situation......I can't say that, and I can't say that I will ever be able to. I know that I love my country, my family and my husband. I love the fact that I am an integral part of the support system that allows him to continue to honorably serve. I understand this lifestyle requires sacrifice on both our parts and yet....I find that, occasionally, I am filled with confusion and frustration. It used to be that I just "let it go" or so I thought I was letting it go. In reality I was just letting, whatever IT was fester in the deep, dark, dank places of my mind...places that are usually only occupied by my irrational fears and useless inventions. I am finished with festering, because festering leads to infection and the last thing I want infected is my mind because I have a hard enough time making sense as it is. I cannot express, even to myself, in words how therapeutic it is to release my thoughts in a manner such as this. I can be the flexible supportive wife, the jubilant loving mother, and the crazy confused woman who wants to run over Gumby........all without scaring my husband or children because I have released my thoughts, feelings, and tensions here...here in my own little corner of the blogosphere...... and you know what? I feel better!

~Semper Gumby~

Mrs. X

12 Helpful Hints:

Anonymous said...

I'll help you run Gumby over if you would like :D

Britt said...

I never liked Gumby either .. but I'm so glad you vented instead of letting it fester! This blog-world is big enough for a few more rants, I think ;o)

Good luck with the moving! And remember to eat .. *winky wink* =oD lol

Elena said...

Oh dear, that's a quick move. If I lived close I'd come help you pack. Do you know where you'll be going yet or do they live that as a surprise? Keep us posted when you can. I'm sure you're going to be extra busy for the next few weeks.

"The Queen in Residence" said...

I am so sorry for that frustration. I am so sorry for all that you have to continually give up to support the military and their constant change. So grateful for your willingness to move for our country. So grateful for your husband for making that choice to serve. So sorry that we cannot all just send ourselves there to have a big old bloggy commentors packing party. Now that would be something huh? I will keep checking back on you and hoping that all is well and understanding if you fall off the bloggy radar for a while. Best wishes for an uneventful move.

Mrs. X said...

Signe:
I woud like that...very much)

Britt: NO ONE needs to remind me to eat, it comes second nature to me...just like breathing! :)LOL

Elena: Thank goodness for a little thing called TMO! They coordinate the move for us and actually have movers come in and pack everything for us. I just need to organize everything exactly how I'd like it to be in the new house (because they'll unpack it too!) and....get rid of all the unwanted junk I have. We won't know until we get to Ca what house we'll be living in. Thankfully we have a lot of family in the area and they've agreed to let the boys and I stay until our house is ready.

Queenie: Thank you so much for your kind words. :)

Honestly, I'd rather have a few meaningful comments than 50 empty ones. That is something I definitely have!

I'm really going to try and keep on posting as often as possible, it keeps me sane. :)

Jennifer P. said...

Wow, Mrs. X. That was powerful. I am in awe of you. I am NOT semper Gumby--not even Gumby---more like Pokey.

We'll be here to cheer you on in wherever you go and how quickly you have to get there!

Hang in there! Wish I was closer--I kind of like packing!!!

Anonymous said...

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Michelle said...

Oh, and don't get me started on Pokey! I'm sure he could also be related to the Marines' policies...

At least wherever you go, you'll always have your blogger buddies. :)

Crystal said...

Stumbled across your blog. Loved this one. I'm a military wife also and I've NEVER heard Semper Gumby...BUT I COMPLETELY understand. We have our own version.. Our motto is "Get Ready, and Wait." ha! It seems like they're always rushing you to do something for no reason...

I hope to drop in again sometime.

Anonymous said...

I loved the Gumby story i feel you

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