A Sad Picnic
So yesterday my boyfriend was required to go to an Army National Guard picnic, and asked me to come. Being the new girlfriend who doesn’t know anything about it, I of course obliged. We were a little late, just like most of the people, (they didn’t release everyone from drill that day until 4:35 and they had to go home, change into civilian clothing, and then drive back out past the Armory, and meet up at a park.)
Once we got there there was a lot of introductions, and quite a few forced smiles. Everyone wasn’t happy that there wasn’t any alcohol there, (most of their picnics did have it, but one of their troops died of a drunk driving accident two weeks ago.) But once the food was done, everyone was loosening up and getting into one of the longest lines I’ve seen for it. (It never ended!) But the whole time there was a stale worry, from all the women, and some of the men. Our Scouts, our men, are being deployed. It’s a known fact. The Sergent Major said that it was important for the men to bring their families, and for us to network. For us to get together, and get to really know one another, so that we can help each other when our men are away.
There was talk of weddings, and almost-engagements, all to be fulfilled in a year from the roughly estimated date that they will be deployed. How that once they were married, that their wives had access to the same military scholarships as their husbands. There were smiling children running around with bags of chips, trying to open them. Last but not least, there were women holding onto brand new puppies, something to love and to take care of once their man is gone.
