Our First Time Together

Once I landed at Lambert I was extremely calm.  I didn't see him, I was walking just checking out the people and the little stores, I was not expecting to see him at that part of the airport (he was waiting for me before the baggage claim area).  There he was, the tallest man ever waiving a welcome sign he did himself.  I was shocked.  All girls walking in front of me were: “awww...” I couldn't do anything but smile.


I had pictured that moment a thousand times, should I jump at him? Should I run to him? But if I do that, what is going to happen with my purse? My bag? Could someone steal it while we are kissing?  Well, none of the above, I did the boring smile and walk.  Once in front of each other he hugged me, we remained hugging for the longest time.  I felt uncomfortable, I had makeup on and I did not want to stain his shirt, I also felt shy, with all it was the first time I saw him personally.  After the hug he kissed me, it was ok, not great but ok.  The fear got in me, I did not know how to act, I didn't want to be weird but I did was embarrassed.  It was a very weird feeling, like I did know him in all aspects but I never had the chance to actually be with him physically. It was like pushing months of dating in one day.  He, in the other hand, was a gentleman.  He hold my hand, and gave me hugs, and small kisses, nothing to sexy or that I would consider him as pushing me.

He took me to Saint Louis, to do some tourism before going home.  After that we decided to go home...and I was super tired, after 21 hours between flights and waits I was destroyed. But ladies, we both were waiting for this night, after 1 year of not seeing each other (for me, you can easily add one more year of a pathetic no sex life). From Saint Lois to Saint Roberts is a 2 hours drive, and even though we were listening to hip hop and talking, the dark road, the night, I was done...I told him I wanted to take a nap until we got there.  All I could think of was: do not ruin this woman, you have to have some fun with him tonight! He said that it was ok, and told me to put my head on his lap, I was like: what? haha I did, and again, he was a gentleman. I slept like an hour, until he woke me up.  We weren't there yet but he said I had my hand in a weird position and he thought I was going to get a cramp so he moved me...yes, I was up, but still super tired.




We made it there. All I could think of was: "don’t ruin this...OMG, I would do anything for a red bull".  You see, after a year of waiting we both created huge expectations, and even though I told him I wanted the first night to be nice and slow, a romantic first time, we were in for a show.


I got out of the vehicle, and he then lift me, we crosses the door as a married couple.  When he turned the lights on, the living room table was full of gifts, wrapped by him, one for each day of my stay, plus hundreds of Hershey kisses (my favorites).  He showed me the apartment and then it was time...




I chose a not too sexy gown, black lace, good enough for the first time.  

…Well, it wasn't a perfect.  I’m a grown up, we are both divorced so we know about sex.  But it wasn't perfect.  We had a size problem.  The combination of me not being with anyone for such a long time and then his proportions did not help.  At a time it was causing me pain so we had to stop.  It was frustrating; next day we tried again, but the more we tried the more he hurt me, I wasn't helping neither since the thought of the pain was taking the spark out of it.  By the third day I was desperate, I began feeling it was my fault, I had a great man, which I liked, but could not give him anything.  All this time he was super supportive; he hugged me and told me it was ok, that we would figure it out.  Fuc*k that, I wasn't going to be there for ever, I had 10 days, and 3 were out.  I needed to make it.

So, I went down low, I made it. He had a good time, so that was a good signed. We decided to change the protection for something lighter, whatever that said extra sensitive.  We also got some lubricant to help me.  That was the key! on day five we finally made it, both of us had a happy ending :)




We began knowing each other more, and being able to do it more.  When we were on day eight we decided that time was going by too fast so he extended my ticket.  That gave us more time, but by the end of the second week we over did it...the sex was a little bit to aggressive and he made me bleed a bit, so we stop for 5 days...By the fifth I was still bleeding a bit and I was worried it was something worst, like it got me real worried but it was almost time for me to go so we decided were going to do it, be intimate again.  He didn’t want to at first because he wanted me to heal, but I could see the happiness going out of his face haha so I told him, I was good with it.  We made love, and afterwards I had the period. Thank you baby Jesus...




Besides our "getting to know each other better trauma" we had a great time. This man is super romantic and he is always pending of my needs.

 Like he knows how much I like to sleep so the days the room services needed to come in to change the sheets he would carry me from bed to the living room couch (in my sleep!) so she could do the room, he would go to the hotel’s breakfast area everyday for my breakfast and bring it back to the room before work, getting me a Starbucks on his way back home, cooking for me…is this man the best or what?!

Fort Leonard Wood: Marine's GF Survival Guide

Fort Leonard Wood is NOT a Marine's base ladies, I'm sorry, I was disappointed too.  I was so excited about getting to see what a Marine's base was but this was not going to be the case.  This is an Army’s base, and you get to hear the “Army Strong” thing, every time you get through that gate, haha.

Let me start from the beginning.  Fort Leonard Wood is located in the Missouri Ozarks and its main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert.  There are 3 schools in this base, The Military Police Corps for the U.S. Army, the Chemical Corps for the U.S. Army and the Engineers Corps for the U.S. Army. That is why my bf was there, he is an engineer.

If you don't have a car, you will be stuck at the house all day until your man comes back from base.  There is NO public transportation in Saint Robert.  Yes, that blew my mind, I come from a big city in Europe and I don't think I have been to a small town here where there is no public transportation or a least one bus to take you to the center of the city.  There were some places nearby where we were staying, a dollar store and a furniture store...not much.  After one day you will be bored.  It could be good if you plan on taking your man to base so you can take the car and do something.

You will need an ID to get on base, and you CAN'T get in without being sponsored by your man, this is not negotiable.  It depends of the accuracy of the soldier at the gate, but they can deny you entry if your ID is overdue.  For foreign (like me), you will need a valid passport to show at the gate, the ID from your country of origin has no use there. 

Once inside the base, that thing is like a city.  They have everything in there, even a Starbucks!  For the PX you will need a military ID to be able to buy there, so make sure you go with your man.  Those stores are taxes free so you get to safe some money, and let me tell you they have good stuff there, perfumes like Gucci, Armani, Bath and Body works products, Victoria's Secret products, so its going to be like Christmas. The Gym is great, super big.  To get in there you need to be in the military or be sponsored by one.  While I was there (July 4th) they did something like a fair and it was open to civilians.   It was full of young girls, with little clothe on...I did not like that, but that could be me over thinking. It was a good opportunity for me see the cammies for the different branches; by now you should know that the Branches in the U.S. Arm forces use different cammies, being the Marine’s one the sexiest haha.

If you are looking for the typical "I love my Marine" things you wont have too much to choose from, since it is an Army's base it is focused on the Army, you will find one rack with Marine's stuff and not as close as cool as the Army's gfs one.  Don't expect to get much out of it.

Ok so if you are used to live in a big city Saint Roberts will kill you, its a dead town, you will have to help yourself with the cities nearby to have a good time.  This is what we did to have a memorable time:

I landed at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) which is like 20 minutes from Saint Louis, so we began there (yes, after 20 hours of traveling, I womened it up).

Saint Louis 

• Arc: The icon of St. Louis, MO is undoubtedly the Gateway Arch. America’s tallest national monument since 1965.  We ride the tram 630 ft. to the top, we also visited the Museum of Westward Expansion underneath the Arch showcases the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
• The 360 Rooftop Bar, at the Hilton Saint Louis, near the Busch stadium its located at downtown, we went there for something to eat and drink.  The 360 Rooftop Bar Soaring nearly 400 feet above downtown St. Louis, it is the ultimate rooftop bar and it offers sweeping views in all directions – hence the name – including a birds’ eye view right into Busch Stadium. With a cocktail in hand and a tasty bite to savor, it is the perfect perch to take in the Cardinals, the Gateway Arch, the mighty Mississippi and the sites of St. Louis near and far. Three Sixty has an extensive wine, beer and cocktail selection as well as a delicious assortment of small plate. After this we went to a little bar, we just chose one out of the blue to try some local beers; we had one and then left to Saint Roberts.

• Six Flags, this amusement park was good, I enjoyed the water rides very much.  The food is overpriced inside, so we took our food with us and left it in the truck.  You can come in and out of the park as many times as you want, just make sure they stamp your hand to ensure your re entry.

Saint Roberts:

• Cheers & Salud: this is a very good bar, as the names previews, it has two sections one with hip hop music and another separate room with Latin music.  It was a lot of fun, even though it was never super crowded.  The Latin area was good also but not too many people in it, the DJ needs improvement he was playing a lot of old songs (if you enjoy Latin music you may want to suggest him some). 
• Trinity: Largest club outside of Fort Leonard Wood. Country/Rock out front and a second Dj/Dance club in the back. We went directly to the back, Hip Hop the entire night, nice environment, it wasn't that full though.
• Johnny G's: this is a bar with a small dance floor, cheap drinks, nice people.  We went here mostly because of the DJ's, which is a friend of ours.  If you are lucky and he is playing, you will have a blast.
• Community pool: neither my bf or me can remember the name of this place, but it was the local pool, we paid 3 dollars to get in.  Family environment, but there are some amenities and its cool for tanning and having a different moment. 
• Souvenirs hunting: we just rolled, haha.  We drove around looking for yard sales or flee market.  We didn’t buy anything but had a good time just looking around and taking weird / funny pics.
• Elbow Inn Bar and BBQ: Devils Elbow, Missouri is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County on historic US Highway Route 66. It is situated on the Big Piney River and was named for a particularly bad place in the river known as a "devil of an elbow". It is about five miles (8 km) east of St. Roberts.Many bras have been tacked to its ceiling by free spirits traveling old Route 66 haha, maybe you dare.  It is full of bikers so don’t think on going there with your nicest clothe; the day we went there they were on a bday with free food for all.  There is a visitor’s book where you get to sign; there were a lot of people from around the world.  The pen was missing, so take one with you.

• Historic Route 66: for a foreign like me this was a shock: the ultra famous Route 66 breaks through neighborhoods! and it can get super narrow at some points.   It was fascinating to finally see the Mother Road. 

• Big Lois: yes, an stripper club.  I had my reservations about this, I did not know how I would handle it, if I was going to get jealous or what exactly was going to happened there.  So we talked it out before getting in: he didn’t get to do sh%^it, but me.  So, yes, I put my money out and pum! I got me lap dance, and the girl did not take my money! It was fun, a bit embarrassing  though (I bet my face was the rarest) but fun. I could do it again
• Sonic: this was very romantic, he wanted to take me for a smoothie like the old times, we ordered and drank it the truck.
• Dairy Queen
• Movies 
• Catfish for lunch: my bf wanted to take me there for the catfish, the best one ever he said...it was good :) at the entrance there was a big map of the world, and people got to pin mark their countries.
• Chicken bones (restaurant)
• Buffalo Wild wings (restaurant)

Springfield:

• Midnight Rodeo: my bf is (or he thinks he is) a cowboy and since early in our relationship he wanted to take me to a country music club, and so he did.  It was a blast! I’m Latina and I don’t know anything about dancing country but it was amazing just immerging in the deep America.
• Lamp lighter in: This is the hotel we stayed at, well-located, friendly staff and very clean.  It was just crossing the street from the Midnight Rodeo, so we could drink all we want and just walk home by the end of the night.
• Nakoto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi bar: it has a sizzling Hibachi grill and a sushi bar, you will surely be entertained and satisfied at the dining Japanese restaurant as you watch your food being prepared before your eyes.  It’s a little bit expensive but the food is tasty.
• Bass Pro Shops: It is an outdoor retail leader in hunting, camping, nature gifts, outdoor cooking...it was a stop, just looking around.  He wanted to buy me a knife :s  they have animals in exhibition, like turtles, and a aquarium.  Also, some fake (or dissected, I cant be sure) animals that you can take some good pics with.
• Battlefield mall: this is where we went for cowgirl shopping, nice stores here.  Got my boots at a good price.
• The Worlds largest gift store: yes, its super big.  If you are in need to buy some souvenirs for the family this is the place.  Here we found my cowgirl hat. 

This took me forever to post, I wanted it to be perfect but I decided to just post it! if you have any questions or want to know more about one of these places, leave me a message here.  

Have a nice one!

SEMPER FI.

P.S. Getting ready to fly and see my bf tomorrow :) so please, forgive any misspelling <3

When I Got to See Him for the First Time

And it was a storm indeed.  It was a high-risk trip, I was finally going to see him after more than a year.  What was really going to happen?  Would he be the same? Was he going to act the same?

You see ladies, me and my bf met in a very non-conventional way, for some very romantic, for others a way that would never work.

As the days came nearer I wasn't showing any emotions at all, for the trip or for talking to him, for that matter.  It was a weird combination of exhaustion and really not believing I was finally going to see him.  When we first began planning the trip we thought that the fact that I had a lot of things to do the month before the trip was going to be great (for me) since the time was going to fly by.  The thing is that yes indeed, the time flew but with that came physical and emotional wear.  Besides all the things I had to do I had to make sure I talked to him every day, sometimes I only had 5 mins to talk to him during the day.  That created pressure on me since I knew he needed me and wanted to talk to me, so trying to keep up with my daily activities and taking care of him just wore me out.  By the time everything ended, almost by the end of June, I was done...tired, unmotivated.  I didn't even want to talk to him.  I would try to explain myself there: it was not that I did not want to talk to him, I just didn't want to talk to anybody.  I wanted to close my curtains and sleep, deep sleep until I couldn't sleep anymore.  Even though the big event that I had to help taking care of before the trip was done, I still had to do stuff for myself, and that prevented me from doing the sleeping/resting thing...that and that he did not like when I told him I needed time (not talking to him).  That was a stupid thing from my part, asking him this, but that was the result of fatigue.  He like to talk for hours with me which I like too but I wasn't in the mood, I explained him I did want to talk to him but that 15 mins was a good amount of time, that I did not want to spend hours talking but I also said I wanted a weekend off, off from him.  I didn't want to feel the pressure of "having" to call him every day, I wanted to feel like I was in control again. Well ladies, he did not buy that, he gave me a big "ARE YOU CRAZY?".  So we talked about it and even though he did not yield I began to feel good again.

The days before the trip I did all the beauty things I could while in a super tight budget.  Exfoliation of the entire body and moisturizer for my hair.  I wanted to wax too but the days previous I got my period so that was not going to be possible (also, it is very expensive to do this where I live so I was considering not to anyways).

So the day came and I had to travel.  I did not feel anxious at all, that was weird.  I woke up with enough time to do all the preparations.  I took 3 planes to get to him, and while landing on my last destination (after almost loosing one connection) I thought I was going to see him after the baggage claim area, so I was walking careless, not expecting to see him any time soon.

If I had thought about it I would of been in a whirlwind of emotions.  You see the fact that I had never seen him in person was something to worry about.  Yes, we have done thousands of video calls, pics, letters, voice note, you name it.  But what If I didn't like him? physically? What if when I see him I did not like him?  I loved his personality, that was for sure, after one year interacting as a couple I was sure I knew him well enough but love is more than that, I need to like him physically.  What about the sexual part of the relationship? would we be a match? would we have chemistry?

"AAwww"...said the girl waking in front of me.  There he was, a 6 foot tall man with a sign waving at me.  What the hell was he doing there? Shouldn't I've seen him after baggage claim? 

Happy Birthday America! Fun facts about July 4th.

America’s 237th Independence Day is almost here and even though this is by no means my first time in the States on this glorious day it does bring me a lot of excitement since this time I will be seeing someone special for me, my Marine.  

While preparing to see my Marine I wondered:  how much do I really know about what we are celebrating?

With the Declaration of Independence the 13 colonies embarked on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation.   Here I share with you some if not fun, unusual facts about this important date:

• The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.

• The Liberty Bell was rung not on July 4, 1776, but on July 8, 1776, from the tower of Independence Hall summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon. When it was rung in honor of George Washington’s birthday in 1846, it cracked irreparably. 
• Fireworks are believed to have developed out of military rockets. In the European Middle Ages, the military pressed fireworks experts into service to conduct celebrations of victory and peace.
• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.  The last signature on the Declaration of Independence, by Thomas McKean of Delaware, wasn’t placed on the document until long after the original Declaration of Independence was signed, in January, 1777. 
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
•  The melody for "The Star-Spangled Banner" was taken from “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a drinking song of a London society. Click here to listen to the anthem played by the US Army Bands.
• The English word "barbecue" came from the Arawak Indians of the Caribbean. The barbacoa was a grating of green wood upon which strips of meat were placed to cook or to dry over a slow fire.

• Upon her husband’s death in 1776, Betsy Ross took over the family upholstering business. It was there where George Washington asked Ross to design and make a flag for the new nation.
• The first unofficial flag of the United States was hoisted at Prospect Hill in Charlestown in Massachusetts on January 1, 1776, and was called the Continental Colours or, incorrectly, as the Grand Union Flag.
• June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
• The tablet held by in the Statue of Liberty's left hand bears the date July 4, 1776, but the statue itself was presented to the U.S. by France on July 4, 1884. It was dedicated two years later, on October 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland.
• The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam”. This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.
•  In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

A twist  for me is that this time I will be able to celebrate it the American way! so I'm making sure I pack my sun lotion and get ready for barbecues and beverages with my boyfriend to commemorate the birth of America and the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776!

Welcome June! The Month of My Dreams

I have to accept that this has been a long journey. Long, long, long....

Being with him for a year now, a whole year has made me think of what a lucky person I am.  Even though we are not physically together he is there for me, he knows me and cares for me.

And now, after three failed attempts of seeing each other it is finally happening.  I will finally see him.  The road hasn't been easy, I knew I was going to need money to see him so I saved all I could while on my last job.  I don't have a job right now and I had to expend way more of what I was thinking on, it left me in a very tight position but it is worth it. It will be when I first see him, standing there...

Now lets talk about the surprise.  He managed to get out of school so he can go pick me up to the airport on time, meaning that I wont have to wait for him (thank you baby Jesus).  I have dreamed about this moment so many times that I want everything to go perfect, and everytime he says something or try to do something different than the way I have imagined it I tell him "that is not the way I pictured it!" haha.

Here goes the plan ladies: I will do the traveling...it is an 8 hours flight first and then I have a 2 hours stop in the States to my second connection that will be a 3 hours flight.  The dilemma is that in my dreams I get off the plane with a sexy little black dress and super high red heels.  Now, everybody who has traveled a Transatlantic flight knows that is virtually impossible (unless you want to expend the worst 11 hours of your life) to travel with high heels and a tight dress...short btw.  Getting changed from my comfies to the sexy dress is the option but the question would be: where? I normally do it in the stop, since I usually have 4 hours or so, but my first stop is going to be in New York and only for 2 hours where I have to also do immigrations, so good bye to that.  The other option was to get changed during the second flight...that means, putting on the dress, shoes and makeup (nothing contaminates more your face's skin that long flights with makeup) in the plane's bathroom. I think that will be too much besides uncomfortable and there is always and asshole knocking on your door when you are on your beauty business.

Something that came to my mind also is that I could tell him not to get in the airport until after one hour past my landing, so I can go pick up my bags and do the makeover haha...because some airports have the freaking bag belt right at the exit, meaning that if he gets there on time he will see me once I'm there, on my traveling clothe, trying to pick up my bag.

OR...just putting on my makeup during the 3 hours flight and just let him see me with my traveling clothe...

P.S. He said "NO" to the getting in late to the airport lol...minus one option.

I Got A Letter!

I love the smell of a fresh letter in the morning :)

Mr. Big is at WOBT and opposite of what I had read about military schooling we have been communicating without drawbacks.  We do video calls every day, sometimes twice per day and we chat and text.  Ok, we have crazy schedules due to the time difference but we make it work.

Anyways, I wanted a letter.  I see/ hear all the girls talking about getting letters from their Marines that made me want them also! Yes, I'm an envious person, those girls don't hear from their men in weeks and live for a letter, me in the other hand get to hear from my Marine and still...well yes, that is how I rule my Kingdom haha.

I've been asking for the letter forever and I know he have them (he has written almost four by now) but he hasn't sent them, I was every day "Did you send them yet? Did you send them yet? Did you send them yet?"

Today I had to do some errands and like everyday and out of a custom since I was not expecting anything, went to the mailbox.  A lady was coming in the building, she actually had to stop before me since I rushed to the mailbox. I opened it and at first I did not see anything; I bent a little more and there it was! A letter from my Marine!

"Aawww" "muah muah muah" and with that, I kissed my Marine's hands, the mailman's and every other person that had touched that envelope.

It was a beautiful letter, he wrote in cursive since I've always seen his molded one; he wanted me to see he had a nice handwriting.  In the letter he said he was thinking about me, about our life together.  He asked me what kind of house would I like 'Victorian' or 'Ranch' Style, I didn't even know what that was! lol No worries, my friend google will help me out.

...And he sent a picture.  Just a regular one, he had to take one for his passport.  But he looked very handsome.  He has changed a lot, last pic he showed me (we were not together by that time) he looked awful, like a inmate lol.  My Marine is getting fashionable and fashionable every day.  I'm doing a good job.

In all, it was good having a letter from him.  Even though he wrote about something I already knew (we talked about it the same day he wrote the letter lol) it was nice he took the time to please his girl.

“More than kisses, letters mingle souls.”

John Donne 

                                                                                                                                                                                              

POW/MIA Flag

I was reading about Memorial Day when I came across the POW/MIA flag.  What was this flag? I have never seen it in the States but yet it seemed it had an important meaning.   Here is some information for those who like me want to know a bit more about it. 

What is behind the flag?

POW/MIA stands for Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIA).  The flag was designed as a symbol of citizen concern about United States military personnel taken as prisoners of war  or listed as missing in action.

It has its origins in 1971 during the Vietnam War with Mary Hoff, member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. This lady was married to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael G. Hoff.  Her husband's plane, an A7A Corsair, was shot down on January 7th 1970 in Southeast Asia. In 1971 she read a Jacksonville Times-Union news story about Annin Flags, a New York flag manufacturer; she contacted the flag company, persuading them to help.  




What Are the Symbols in the Flag?

The flag is black, and bears in the center, in black and white, the emblem of the league.  The emblem features a white disk bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man, a watch tower with a guard on patrol, and a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white motto: "You are not Forgotten."

How Did the Flag Become Important? 

On 1989 an official League flag that flew over the White House on National POW/MIA Recognition Day 1988 was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a result of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress.  On 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designating it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." 

The importance of the League’s POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America’s POW/MIAs.  Other than “Old Glory”, the League’s POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982.  At present, beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from all U.S. wars.

When Should We Fly This Flag?

Passage by the 105th Congress of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act required that the League’s POW/MIA flag fly six days each year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day.  It must be displayed at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Departments of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, the headquarters of the Selective Service System, major military installations as designated by the Secretary of the Defense, all Federal cemeteries and all offices of the U.S. Postal Service.

How to Display It? 
When displayed from a single flagpole, the it should fly directly below, and be no larger than, the United States flag.  If on separate poles, the U.S. Flag should always be placed to the right of the other flags (the viewer's left). 

Is There Really Any Prisoners of War or Missing in Action Personnel Office from the Vietnam War that Supports to Continue Using This Flag as a National Symbol in the US?

Elizabeth Flock from the US News raised this question: "How did an unofficial flag honoring less than 2,000 Americans become an official national symbol that many Americans now see every day?" Lynn O'Shea Director of Research at the National Alliance of Families for the Return of American's Missing Servicemen answered saying that: The POW/MIA Flag started out as a public awareness symbol representing servicemen captured and missing during the Vietnam War. Today, it represented over 80,000 servicemen unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Cold War, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan.   

What are your thoughts? Should this flag continue to be displayed as such a strong symbol? 

While you think on that I'll give you this interesting fact: the bust in the flag is Jeffrey Heisley's, that actually was not a POW or MIA.  His father was working with the flag project when he was struck with hepatitis during a Marine Corps training program. 
His shrunken condition inspired his father to draw him in silhouette for the flag.  

My Two Cents...
I found this picture on the internet, when I saw it I thought that it reflected better what I understood the flag meant: the bust was from someone back home waiting for their loved ones. But as you may know by now the bust has no relation with the families of the missing or prisoners.

It seems I was wrong with a lot of things, first being that this flag has a way more recognition than I thought it had; even though I've never noticed it.  

Should this flag be as important as it is now? If we are still thinking about the Vietnam War no, I think it shouldn't. But today it represents more than that war but all of them; there are families still waiting and we can't forget them neither.  The flag could be a remainder for those who have the means, to keep looking for those who are not yet back home.

Mark Your Agenda: The third Friday of September is the National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

My Marine's Bday

Part 1

Mr. Big is turning 34, Amen to that.  This is the time of the year where we finally separate by one year; I love him being older than me :)

I'm not really sure in what to get him for his present, I would buy him the world if I could.  I saw a very nice pair of sneakers, urban sneakers, something trendy, maybe that, or a nice shirt, in a provocative color, salmon maybe.

First thing is that I have to make sure we talk that day, he is expecting it.  My Marine have had a very weird life, in his previous relationship it doesn't seem like the lady was anywhere near to being in love.  He never had a birthday party and most of the time he did not get any presents on his very important day.  WTH? really?  For me bdays are the big deal, its the day you get to be the King (in his case).  He is my king every day of the year but that day, come on, hello!  So its very frustrating for me not being able to throw him a party or giving him...you know, me wrapped in lingerie... 

I went to a store last week and saw some incredible clothe, I wanted to buy him everything.  But I have to be wise with the money so I have to choose on what would be my final selection of items.

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Part 2

Those four paragraphs were written before his bday.  This is what happened:

I told him months ago I was going to buy him a gift that I was not going to ship (to save the shipping money) and that I was going to give it to him when I see him.  Then a while ago I reflected on him never having a bday party (since he was a kid) and that most of the time he did not get a present for his bday.  I changed my mind, I thought I had to send something, I decided for a little detail, not his real gift.  A pre-gift.

The weekend of his bday I was going to be at a bachelorette party, my sister in law's.  We talked a lot about it so he knew, I told him I was going to call him for sure on Saturday (his bday) but not early in the day but when I get home, we both agreed to that, he was fine.  I left for la Rioja on a Friday (Thurday he began to get emotional, sad about it) I told him I may not be able to call him on Friday, but I made an effort.  When I texted him to tell him I could, he said he couldn't because he was in a store buying something with his dad for a job they  had to do in the house...like he couldn't facetime me for a couple to say good bye?  First impact.  I got a bit mad.

I left and I wrote every time I could so he knew what I was doing.  You know how you have this feeling deep inside that you HAVE to write so the person doesn't get mad? I don't like that, I like writing him but not with the feeling that I HAVE to do it.

Long story short: I went to a club on Saturday (his Friday) and came back by 0600 my Sunday (1200 his Sunday) I said: I'm back, I'm going to bed I'm tired, I love you.

When I woke up I found a "Thanks for Remembering it".  WTH? Did I forget? It was 1200 his Sunday, literally beginning the Sunday.  Did I forget his birthday?  I woke up by 1300, his 0800; I decided to ignore it (difficult for me being the person I am, I got super mad about it) and I sent a happy bday text.  He woke up, said thanks, that he loved me and then...after I tried to talk a bit more he said he was not in the mood to talk.  Like was like that all day.  It screwed the rest of my day.  I wasn't sure on what I did.  Yes, I wasn't the first one who said happy bday but I did not forget, I said it super early anyways!  And the fact that I was trying to reach him and I was saying I was sorry and he kept giving me crap made me more mad.

Then he came with the "a bunch of friends are throwing me a party", what bunch of friends? He doesn't have a bunch of friends where he is right now, wth?.  Where did these friends came from now?  Was he doing it to punish me for not texting him at the minute his bday came in effect?

By the end of the day (my day) he was all normal again, he said he was tipsy because he missed me but he didn't say he was sorry.

In summary he got mad at me because while on the club I did not text and then I did not say happy bday to him first thing (technically it wasn't his bday yet).

Can you notice the difference in my mood between part 1 and part 2? How easily things change...

I'm the one that is not in the mood right now.

Warrant Officer: My Marine's Graduation at Quantico Virginia

Since yesterday I've been trying to think what has been the most caring thing someone has done for me.  I'm not talking about romantic moments (even though this could absolutely count as one) but something that showed deep care or interest, and I couldn't find one.  

Yesterday my Marine was graduating for Warrant Officer.  I can't say the schooling months were hard in terms of communications, they were not indeed.  Now that I think back, all the running to my house when he was online and I was out, me staying up until 0200 were not hard; they were not a  sacrifice because seeing and talking to him made me happy so I just didn't think about it.

Yesterday was his graduation and while I was expecting pictures for the next day (we have a 6 hours time difference and the ceremony was by his 1800, my 0000) he had something else in mind: He wanted his mom to facetime me so I could see the whole ceremony.

Really? who does that?  I told him "no! let your mom enjoy the ceremony, don't make her do that"

At 0000 and I had a call, his whole family was there, I got a close up of his mom and sister that said hi and then the family.  I'm talking I haven't met his family in person yet and they already seem to like me.  This is beyond great for me, I had an awful relationship with my ex husband's family; during my whole marriage I felt they didn't really liked me or accepted me, so the relationship felt fake.  This for me is amazing, I'm shy and all but I feel that I could really have a nice relationship with his family. 

I saw when they called his name, his mom began to cry before I did.  I was not planning to, but then I thought about what he had told me before: this was his first time (besides Boot Camp) when someone goes with him for his graduation.  Can you imagine? my Marine began as a private and was married all his military life and no one never ever went with him?  My eyes moistened.  

His mom took me to the front of the stage...yes! An amazing woman.  My bf was in the front row so I could see how handsome he looked. I even took pic from my lap top :)  Then, when they played the Marine's hymn I got more emotional, I wanted to be physically there with him.  By the end of the hymn the ceremony was over and his mom took me to him! I said hi and congratulations then I let him go to his family.

When we hung up I cried a lot, not because of the ceremony or the fact that he was graduating but for the fact that it had happened so many times before and he was always alone.  I thought about all the time he has had good experiences in his life and I was not with him because fate hadn't put us in the same path.  

Now that we are together I'm so ready to begin creating special memories with him. This is by far the most caring thing someone has ever done for me. 

Congratulations Officer Big,

I love you,

Honey