My husband is my hero! He served our country in the U.S. Army for 12 years. He grew up being one of those "military brats", he was born in Virginia, spent time in Japan and ended up in San Diego as a teenager.
His father walked out of his life when Donald was just 14 years old. For the past 30 years my husband has not seen nor heard from his father, yet he is the best daddy ever to MY daughter, Abigail.
Donald and I met just over 11 years ago. I was on line in a chat room talking to my web guru. I made a comment about a song and some unknown person disagreed with me and then my Donald jumped to my defense. I've always been one of those "I can take care of myself" kind of girls and didn't feel I needed anyone to come to my defense. But he went on to say that he used to live in Georgia. Turns out he'd spend 4 years at Ft. Benning and 3 or 4 more at Ft. Stewart. He didn't really have a great opinion of my fine state. He said it was too hot and it rained every day.
We exchanged email addresses and a romance began... across an ocean. He was stationed in Germany. And to this day I don't know who "the man" was, nor do I care. But once when I emailed to him to "duck and run" if he heard gun fire, but as he was worked close security detail at the time, he explained to me that it was HIS JOB to jump in front of "the man" to take the bullet. From the beginning our relationship has always felt perfectly right. I truly feel we are a part of each other.
In the middle of fall 9 years ago Donald did not re-enlist. He flew home to visit his family in California and in January of 2001 he moved back to hot, sticky, humid Georgia. At the time he used to sing this song to me all the time. And he was a lot like the man in the song. No car, no job, just a few things tossed into a back pack and me picking him up at the Atlanta airport (he didn't actually walk).
We were married in the summer of 2002. And life has been a wonderful journey together every day since. I remember this one time when he was yelling at his youngest son, for not doing a school project that was due, that I watched Colin's eyes glaze over and actually saw the very second that he just tuned out what his dad was saying and at that moment I grew as a parent and realized there is no need to yell at my daughter. That if you talk softly, you child might listen. This knowledge certainly helped me get our 3 children through their "terrible teens".
Donald sometimes talks about when he was a MP stationed in Georgia,I know a lot about his time in Germany, but just about the only thing he's said about his time in Saudi Arabia was that you could really see all the stars in the sky when you are out in the dark desert at night. I don't pry or push. I just listen.
I also know that he had a lot of fun when he helped keep the 1996 Olympics secure. He has some really cool photos from that adventure. He was so fascinated with the tattoo of the Olympic flame on one of the softball players that we have several photos of that. But due to the location of that tattoo, I better not show you those, I'll just leave that to your imagination.
I have the greatest respect for my husband's service to his country. I have an awsome love for his family. His mom, raised 4 wonderful children. Donald was # 2. When their dad was no longer in the picture, she stepped up and did a great job. My Donald is a kind, gentle, hardworking, smart and emotional man.
In February of next year will mark his ninth year with the Georgia Department of corrections. So he continues to work in a field that helps keep America secure and safe. I'm very proud of my husband and his service to our country. I'm thankful that last night he had a fabulous dinner in the oven when I got home from the office. I'm grateful that he sings to me. I'm overjoyed that he tears up at sad movies so I don't have to cry alone. And I'm blessed that he's the "daddy" that my daughter was missing in our lives for so many years. He is a true hero. To his country and especially to me.
This song is my tribute to MY AMERICAN SOLDIER, my hero, my husband.
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Tammy, what a great tribute to your husband, Donald. Your love and happiness for him showi throughout this post. You both are so lucky to have found each other.
Ok no matter how many times I hear about you and Don....I never get tired of it.....you get my vote for #1 wife of the year Tammy.... .....oooya tell Donald I said a personal thank you to him for his service then and now....peace zane
Tammy --- thanks for the wonderful tribute to your husband,,Donald --- Thank him for me for his service to our country and for his devotion to you,my friend.
Rebecca- I really feel blessed that we found each other. We do have a wonderful life together.
Zane- I will certainly tell him.
Liz- I just love your new little avitar and the doggie. I am also very thankful of his service and devotion to our family. He is a wonderful husband.
Tammy, I love your story of how you found each other and the life you have made together. I was an Army brat too and served in Vietnam. It is an integral part of who I am. My best to both of you. You might enjoy seeing this about Veterans Day at our church,
Michael- That was really nice at your church. This past Sunday at our service the children handed out poppies to our veterans and their spouses, but I love the bulletin board idea. I'll be suggesting it for next year.
You are one lucky lady, Tammy, to have found your soul mate. Great love story.
Jane- just wait until you hear about my annual Christmas gift from Donald. I am indeed very lucky. One of my friends calls Donald "husband of the century"... I tell her it's off "all time"
My Donald is a kind, gentle, hardworking, smart and emotional man.
Tammy, he's also quite the looker! Good going girl! I am so happy that you have him and you are both very blessed. xxoo
Susie- yeah he's good looking too. And he cooks. And he puts up and takes down my signs. The only faults I can usually find with him are he likes the history channel way too much for my tastes and he snores.... but I can live with both those things. And thanks to you ... now he gets to sing in the car and I just enjoy it because he does. You helped change my attitude about that and I don't think of it as a problem anymore. And he's taking me out to a new Asian place for dinner tonight.
Tammy - I don't know if I've ever told you before but I love reading stories about your Donald. They're always so loving and endearing. I also loved the video. I had never seen that before. Thx for sharing it Tammy; it was a tear jerker.
Donald sounds like a great and wonderful guy. I'm really happy for you both.
Donne- yes, when I showed my husband this post this evening, he couldn't watch the video. I think it is really great. And you know I love talking about my Donald.
Suesan- he really is a super sweet guy. We went on a date tonight to a new place in town to eat. It was wonderful.