Saying Aloha to Hawaii

Mr. L and I have finally (finally!) received a definitive answer regarding his current medical situation.  As some of you may have read in my last post on this topic, Mr. L had begun his medical evaluation board process back over the summer.  That involved a lot of paperwork, some medical tests, and a good dose of patience.  We were fortunate that his packet actually came back VERY quickly and also with some wonderful news that he'll be medically retired by the end of the year.

Beautiful Sunset Beach

A year ago, medical retirement/medical separation was the very last thing we wanted.  We were doing everything in our power to diagnose his illness and get it fixed.  But sadly, chronic illness doesn't work that way and we've had to roll with the punches.  There was an option for him to cross rate (change his job) to stay in the Navy, but Mr. L wanted that even less than separation.  So we took our chances and are very happy to say at least this turned out in our favor.

Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach

I guess the big question on our minds is what now?  Basically, we are pretty much in the dark.  We know that we will be moving home to Alabama, but we have no idea what's in store for us after that.  Mr. L and I are both updating our resumes and he is actively working connections to secure some type of employment, but we're worried about how it'll work out for us.  There are a lot of things we want and don't want in our life together and we'll just have to pray that the pieces fall together somehow.

Gorgeous Lanikai Beach

On top of that, we'll now have to deal with two complete lifestyle changes.  After 11 years of dedicated service, Mr. L will have to answer the question, "Who am I without the military?"  The military can be such a hassle, but it really has provided him with not only security, but wonderful opportunities throughout his adult life that I don't think he could have achieved any other way.  Losing that part of his identity will be a huge blow, but I do have faith that he'll find something equally as important to him and throw his energy and passion into that.

Kaneohe waterfalls on a stormy day

The second lifestyle change will be saying goodbye to Hawaii.  We've known from the beginning that we would never be settling here as a family, but Hawaii is a unique and lovely place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.  We've spent the majority of our marriage here, made some incredible friends, and have seen beauty we could never have imagined while growing up in Alabama.  This period of our lives was an absolute blessing to experience and I'm so thankful for that opportunity.  And let me tell you, I am sure going to miss the food here!  Haha.

The Blue Angels performing on Hickam Air Force Base

We're still working out the final details, but for now, we will be soaking up every last bit of sun, beach, mountains, food, and friends while we still can, and then it will be back to the "real world" for us.  Feel free to send lots of good thoughts and prayers our way!  :)

Welcome to And Drink the Wild Air!

Hi everyone and welcome to my newly made over blog!  This little space on the web has changed from "The Landrum Wife" and is now known as "And Drink the Wild Air," a nod to the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson quote from his poem "Merlin's Song."  A few months ago, I alluded to this transition with this post, and I am proud to finally unveil the final product to you all!

Just like with my last blog redesign, I'd like to thank Beth Bradford for all of her hard work, patience, and valuable time helping me figure out this new transition.  She always seems to deliver exactly what I'm envisioning and is such a pleasure to work with.  If you ever need any help with your own blog design, I highly recommend working with her!

This is just the first of many changes that will be happening in the lives of the Landrums over the next few months and I feel like it's very appropriate to kick it off with a blog rename and redesign.  (Look for an upcoming post detailing some of the other changes here soon!)  I'm hoping now that my new name will reflect a bit more of my personal life philosophy as we open up the next chapter of our lives, and I am also hoping you all continue to join me for the ride :)

Until next time, aloha!  :)

Plans are Useless

It's a known fact that things never go the way you plan for them to go.  I should have known that this would eventually apply to Mr. L and me as well, but when things are going swimmingly for you, it's hard to imagine anything but all that happiness and good fortune when you're making plans for the future.

For most of his life, Mr. L knew that he was going to be involved with the military somehow.  When he was a kid, he thought that the Army would ultimately be his path, but when the Army recruiter wasn't in on the day he went to sign up, the Navy recruiter stepped in and snatched him up.  It's funny how something so small can have a major impact on your life, isn't it?  I most likely never would have met Mr. L if it weren't for that Army recruiter being MIA!

And just for fun...my and Mr. L's first picture together...we were babies!

Two Year Hawaiian Anniversary

It's SO crazy for me to think about, but Mr. L and I have officially been living in Hawaii for two years now!

At Makapu'u Lookout, just a few days after moving here

I always thought the time would drag on sooo slowly because we'd be so far away from anything I'd ever known, but I can honestly say time is moving TOO fast.  We're going to start looking at orders soon, y'all.  I can't even fathom that right now!

Think: The Modern-Day Exploitation of the U.S. Military - Part Two

In my last Think post, I talked about the growing disconnect between the civilian world and the military world and how that relates to homecoming exploitation.  Unfortunately, that kind of exploitation isn’t the only type that’s out there.  If you haven’t heard about it, there has been some controversy in the American media regarding military benefits and pay, particularly recently.  A Huffington Post article published at the beginning of this year titled “Defense Budget Faces Cuts to Personnel After Decade of War” talks about ever-expanding cost of military personnel and the “lavish” benefits they receive (the word “lavish” was edited out later, I’m assuming after the backlash of anger hit them square in the face).

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Think: The Modern-Day Exploitation of the U.S. Military - Part One

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We've all seen the YouTube videos and the TV shows revolving around the ever-present theme of military homecomings.  Spouses cry with happiness, children shriek with joy, and even dogs slobber with pure jubilation when their uniformed loved one comes home.  It strikes a chord in all of us collectively as a nation, and we feel that sharing that moment with those military members and their loved ones offers up a connection we wouldn't otherwise get.  They are feel-good stories, and while it is an incredibly emotional and wonderful experience for those parties involved, I have a bit of a different take on the situation because I actually consider it to be a form of exploitation.