When 'We' becomes 'I' and 'Me'

Amber Madore to her husband Gunnery Sgt Richard Madore.

My husband GySgt Richard Madore is currently serving 13 months in Iraq and has been in the Marine Corps for 18 years. Rich is the guy that will stand up for what he believes and what he thinks is right.

We have missed many special events together in the past 7 months from our one year wedding anniversary to birthdays and to the up and coming holidays. I am so proud of what Rich has accomplished with his career in the Marine Corps and I know the he has many more wonderful years left serving his country.

Seven months down eight more to go, that is the topic of conversation when family members and friends call to check on me.

I am a Marine Corps wife and my husband is deployed. My every day life consists of a routine, everyone told me 'keep busy' and 'find things to occupy your time'. This is my first deployment and most likely not my last. Everything in conversations with people have turned into 'me' and 'I'. There is no 'we' and 'us' right now.

Yes I am missing out on all the great things you experience in your first year of marriage, but I am also experiencing the pride that I have for my husband and my country more than I would of if I was not in this position.

Phone calls and e-mails are a dime a dozen, and the worry that I had when he first left has eased. Knowing that my husband loves his job and his country is what gets me through each day on the calendar.

It all comes down to learning to live life a new way why he is gone and 'keeping myself busy'. It is a different way to live life, but I would never want to be anything but a Marine Corps Wife.

- Amber Madore

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