It's never easy...

Although I have the basics of military life down, there are so many times that I feel like I'm never going to get the hang of it! I understand the time and date system. I can sit through a conversation and understand the majority of the acronyms and the rest of the military language. I am still working on companies, divisions, units, ranks and how they all fit together. But for the most part, I can follow along when two or more soldiers are in the room.

However, just when you think you're starting to get the hang of it, you're reminded how much you still have to learn.

I took the truck for a drive to visit The Man for a long weekend he had. After driving all day, I finally pulled in and the visitor's center was closed (1800 hours...I arrived at 1900).

No big deal, right? I headed to the visitor's line at the gate.

It's never easy. This was no exception.

I called The Man to let him know I was at the gate and should be in soon. Turns out, I was at the wrong gate. But, once again, thought to myself, "No big deal, I'll just ask for directions, the place is only sort-of huge..."

I pulled out the documents and handed them to Gate Guard for review and entrance to the gate.

Our insurance card was out of date by about a week (we had insurance, just not the new card) . Without updated proof of insurance, I wasn't getting in. I ended up driving down the interstate a few miles to a truck stop recommended by Gate Guard. I called our insurance company, they faxed the updated info to me and I was off to the post again.

Back at the gate, Gate Guard scrutinized the paperwork and finally, I made it through. Fortunately, Gate Guard was nice and he gave me directions or I would have gotten lost trying to find The Man! I made it to the camp that The Man is living at and I was home free.

Or so I thought.

The Man led me to his barracks and I stopped outside the door, he turned to me and said, "Come here". So I tagged along after him like a little puppy whose owner just got home for the day. As The Man headed down the aisle between the packed-in bunks the thought crossed my mind that it was weird to just walk into a room he shares with 39 other men. When, half-way into the room he turned around and said, "What are you doing in here?!"

Turns out he had said, "STAY here" not, "Come here"...so the poor guys in his barracks trying to enjoy a quiet night got a nice surprise from The Man's wife.

Sorry guys.

Fortunately there weren't many in the room, and they were all clothed and very nice about my mistake and invited me back into the room. I tried to not move and keep my mouth shut until we were home free and off post!

I don't know if it ever gets easier.

We were in the visitor's center parking lot the next day when we bumped into a woman who looked like she knew her stuff and had her act together.

As she walked out of the Visitor's Center a flustered look spread across her face and she sighed, "It's never easy, is it?"...