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« My Life Journey: Part 2: July 1996- May 2000 | Main | My Life Journey, Part 4: May 2005-Present »

My Life Journey, Part 3: June 2000-May 2005

By Cindy | September 2, 2007

I must regress in my story to incorporate the most important change in my life!

Meeting Mr. Right

I met my husband on a return trip to the Academy as a Second Class. Prior to Junior year we’re not allowed to have cars at the Academy. Civilian clothes for liberty and cars were the biggest perks toward graduation. I was driving Big Orange, big ol’ 1977 Chevy Nova. Fitting for a Texas girl. I was returning with a few friends from the Academy. Our matchmaker didn’t tell me about Ryan until the morning we left Nashville for the final leg of our trip. It was Jan 2nd, 1999. She said that I would be driving back with Ryan while she drove her car with her boyfriend. Anyway, I remember exactly what Ryan was wearing that morning. A Tim McGraw T-Shirt (which he still has by the way), jeans, boots and a ball cap. You can call it a Harry Met Sally Moment. We got along fine in the ride. We talked and talked and filled the full ten hour drive with history discussions–Civil War is a favorite subject even to this day, ships, the Academy and life in general. I was always a shy one around boys. It was one of the few times I was really “myself” around a guy.

We had a class together that semester–very coincidental, since he wasn’t a history major. One of his few elective courses just happened to be the same class I was taking–The South. We didn’t go out until a month later. After that, we were inseparable. By the time Spring Break rolled around in late March, I was taking a trip to meet the family of this new Guy in my life. This was a first for me. To say I was a bit nervous is an understatement. He had hundreds of family around his hometown of Nashville. Every day I met new people. I grew up with my immediate family. Holidays and everyday events were small. At Ryan’s, there were people of all ages everywhere. I loved the family relations. On our road trip back to the Academy, we had the “discussion.” When he asked what I thought about living in Nashville, I knew it was a bit more serious than just a few dates. I said that Nashville was great and I would enjoy living in the area.

Before he graduated, he had proposed. Actually, the proposal is quite humorous. It came in the form of an email. I received this really long email explaining how he’d love to spend the rest of his life with me. I knew there was a reason why I was partial to computers! We were going to wait a bit before making a formal proposal, but by the end of May 1999, I had an engagement ring and we were set to get married after I graduated a year later. Ryan went off to flight school in October 1999. I finished my senior year and planned the wedding from Annapolis. We got married in Nashville. Another reason computers were so vital–Successfully planning a wedding long distance! I found the caterer and florist online. They were fantastic. I made my Invitations on the computer. Mom and I made and decorated the cake. I had planned on running the Music City Marathon that year, but I used the weekend to personally visit all the major players of the wedding: florist, caterer, and photographer. Ryan made a surprise visit on his transit from Panama City to Oklahoma. Awwh, it was a romantic weekend. I didn’t get to run, but I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. It paid off. We’re married with two beautiful children and a long and bright life ahead.

After the wedding and honeymoon, I spent a couple of weeks with Ryan in Texas as he started Jet Training. I had a month of temporary duty at the Academy before checking into my training command in Rhode Island as a Surface Warfare Officer. Ryan decided Jets were not the path he wanted to take in the Navy and transferred to the Surface Warfare community. He joined me in RI two months before I headed to Florida to check into my first ship, USS Gettysburg (CG 64).

The Navy

I spent six months in Newport, RI for Surface Warfare Officer School. Outside of classes, working out was a daily event. The gym had a great aerobics program. I loved the kick boxing instructor. She made us work our tail off! Every imaginable weight machine, free weights and cardio machine was available for us. We had volleyball leagues and played basketball for fun. I loved running through Newport along the cliffs, down the streets lined with mansions, on the beaches with fresh sea breezes and through the quaint cobblestoned streets of town.

In February of 2001, I began my tour on board the USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, stationed in Mayport, FL. I was sent to Virginia for Strike Officer training. I was in charge of the Vertical Launch System and Tomahawk Strike teams Division made up of 30 personnel on board the ship. During my tour, I was one of the Sexual Assault Victim Intervention (SAVI) Officers and the Morale Welfare Officer in charge of organizing tours, events, fund raising, and ship parties for the crew of 350.

Our Mediterranean Deployment was filled with awesome opportunities. We worked closely with the Carrier during the first half of the deployment. Our port visits included Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. Fitness was a priority despite our many days at sea. The Captain was a runner and opened the deck to running in the afternoons throughout the deployment. Running on a ship definitely builds balance and agility. An elliptical trainer and treadmill have a whole new dynamic added as the sway of the ship alters the direction of the machine. We had a weight room and small cardio room to fit in a workout sometime in our crazy schedule. Upon returning to Mayport, I enjoyed running along the beach on base. Morning workouts three times a week were mandatory and part of our work day. The group runs and exercises provided a consistency to my routines.

In May 2003, my husband and I reported for duty in Sasebo, Japan. He was immediately flown to Korea to meet his ship and I checked into my command to become the Operations Officer for the Mine Warfare Staff. I was sent to Yokosuka, Japan (just outside of Tokyo) for the Physical Trainer Course for Command Coordinators. What a fantastic course and opportunity I had by being a part of a class trained by the Cooper Institute. I was in charge of the physical training program at my command. I administered the Physical Readiness Test, coordinated the morning workouts and assisted sailors in developing tailored programs. I provided a monthly newsletter to educate the staff about health and physical fitness.

I continued to workout routinely throughout the first pregnancy. I shifted from running to using the treadmill and elliptical trainer. As the third trimester hit, I walked. Even though I was part of a sea going staff, we were stationed on shore. My job consisted of office hours and I rarely traveled. I worked up to the Friday Little Man arrived. I was even going to go to a get together that evening until Ryan told me I had to cancel because I couldn’t sit still for ten minutes straight. Due to the small facilities/clinic of the Mayport base, my prenatal care was with a local Japanese doctor. Dr. Higashigima was fantastic. He was highly recommended, not just because he could speak English, but because of the high quality care. The birthing facility was very much like a Bed and Breakfast. They provided gourmet meals and a hair dresser to wash and massage our hair after the birth of the child. I was spoiled after the delivery of Little Man! My husband completed his commitment to the Navy and became Stay-At-Home Dad the day Asher was born, Friday, July 30, 2004.

I had two months of maternity and vacation leave combined. I had created a workout routine which I quickly used following the birth. I resumed full workouts after Little Man was born and had dropped 10 pounds within three months. I only had 10 to lose when I found out that we were expecting again in early December. I completed my tour and commitment to the Navy in Japan in May 2005. We spent the first part of the year preparing for the move and adjusting to life with a newborn. We returned to Nashville, TN to begin our life outside of the Navy.

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Topics: Personal Journey |