"Ordinary Me"

  • Published
  • By Debbie McFann
  • 425th Air Base Group
IZMIR AIR BASE, Turkey --  When I was asked by a friend to speak here today
I did not know whether to laugh, cry or pray
I was extremely worried I had no wisdom to share
But I want you to know about what most I care

I feel privileged to be a military wife
It has enabled me to have an extraordinary life
The globe I have traveled, the experiences I have had
Make me the person I am today for which I am glad

Volunteering my time for events big and small
Always makes me realize the value of it all
I can honestly say I have enjoyed doing my part
At every assignment I have left a piece of my heart

TDY, PCS are not random letters to me
These acronyms are just part of my vocabulary
Like a call from my husband when he exclaimed to me,
"We are PCSing next week to a place called Langley!"

"Debbie, could you sell the house and bring our girls here?"
"Sure! I can do that." And then I shed a silent tear
Leaving a home that I thought was the perfect place
Thinking of the new base without one familiar face

Saying goodbye to our friends with whom we had been blessed
With an out-of-date map the girls and I left on our quest
When the car started making sounds that I did not want to hear
I just turned up the radio to make them magically disappear

Raising a family in homes both far and near
It was a challenge that I embraced; the memories I hold dear
My children are now gone with families of their own
They are always in my thoughts, especially when I'm alone

Living in foreign countries has always been a joy for me
Learning about new cultures, customs and our world's history
But I have a secret I will tell you that I cannot deny
I get a lump in my throat when I see my American flag fly

There have been many wonderful moments to share
Some of the sad ones are sometimes too much to bear
I was called on a fateful day to keep a friend near
And the Commander and Chaplain at my door did appear

I will never forget the sound that I heard
Coming from my good friend when she did learn
That the husband she loved would not come home to her again
He had just joined a group of our most precious young men

So now you know something about "ordinary me"
I will never be a great "Woman in History"
But I am happy and content with my accomplishments in life
And proudest of all to be an Air Force wife!