This post was a difficult to write.
It's hard to convey all the many feelings we have been feeling for the past few months in preparation to our major life changes. We were keeping it kind of under wraps in social media about what we had decided to do come this August. After eight years of Air Force life, we have made a decision to change our life course and separate from the military. I won't go into all the many details of our reasoning and thinking, mostly because there are dozens of pros and dozens of cons that we had been weighing in our minds in order to achieve a final decision. It's draining to recap. It's also some of those things with which you feel like it should be a very easy decision if you know it's right but then you doubt yourself and try to figure out if indeed it's your fear or what that stands in your way of a peaceful feeling.
I'll cut straight to the chase. Late last November, when we were pretty sure that we wanted to join the civilian life, we called up one of our acquaintances-dentists who separated from the AF a year or so prior, moved from RAF LAkenheath with his three friends-dentists and bought a couple of practices in NC. It turned out they needed an associate as their practices were growing and offered Robert to come out to NC and see the area and the office for himself. And that's what Robert did in February. He didn't only see this one friend and his practices, he also visited a few other places and drove around to figure out what this area is like. I am talking about Apex/Cary area near the Research Triangle.
Upon return, after much thinking and praying, we made the final decision to agree to their offer. And then things just started to roll faster and faster and faster--packing out, travel plans, looking for houses, schools, etc. All the crazy details that come with moving that I don't even want to rehash once they are done and finished:)
I am writing this post much later--two months later actually and the feelings are still quite raw. I am looking at these pictures of Robert receiving his awards from his commander Colonel Venth, and seeing him in his uniform, remembering all the kind words about him...and I am sad. I am missing that recognition in a military sense of that word, I am missing being a wife of an officer, and I am missing the camaraderie that we had in the military.
Well done, Robert!
And then I remember all the WHY's we chose the new path. The freedom of choice in so many things, the dreams that we still have to fulfill and Robert's passion for actually treating patients and not doing admin work remind me it will all be worth it.
I feel like after living in a new place for two months our family experiences the true feeling of how much we miss what we had, and how difficult it is to adjust to the new things. This shall pass. I hope.
For now I will look at Robert saluting his boss and think about how awesome it was to see him being saluted at the entrance gate to the base:)) I know it's a silly thing and really wasn't a big deal, but it felt awesome:))
And here is Major Watson with his boss (and friend) Major Tholstrom. We are so grateful for Tad for making these last two years enjoyable at work:)
We all came to the good bye ceremony. Kids were so proud of their dad.
I love all the British and American flags.
You want to see something funny?:)) That's us eleven years prior, when Robert was sworn in to the US Air Force in Minneapolis, MN (I was super sick and pregnant with Alex).
Here is Tad, Robert and Jason--the famous trio of RAF Alconbury dental clinic:)
And here is the special display he received as his parting gift. Robert was the last dentist who was still in England and who had worked at both RAF Upwood (before it closed) and at RAF Alconbury. Those are the patches from both bases.
We'll forever be grateful for the US Air Force. It has definitely shaped our life for the better and has given us so much more than just cool places to live. We know we have been blessed and will never forget that.
But right now, it's time to look forward towards the new horizons.
Lyana (swiping away the tears from my cheek).
