G.I. GG

When one wants to join the Army, or any Military branch for that matter, one has to go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to do pretty much everything. In the last few months I've been quite a few times in order for me to take the ASVAB and physical, sign a ton of papers, talk with people, and probably sign more papers. Today I went in again, but this time it was to sign my contract.

The Military puts us up in a nice hotel, sends us to bed with a decent dinner, and blasts us awake at 3:30AM. I can't eat breakfast that early, but I know if I don't, I'll be starving come 930. So I forced some toast and fruit down, and against my better judgment, avoided the coffee. We arrived at MEPS around 5:00 and then most of us proceeded to wait for a long while. Oh how the coffee would have been wonderful around 8:30.

Finally, my name was called somewhere around 10:30 and I got to review my entire application with Sergent Jullette. He was a wonderful man full of great stories, and a good heart. Due to computer issues I got to spend a good two hours with him. A little while later, he got on the phone and read my social security number to someone and then looked at me and said, "You're leaving February 17th. Fort Sill, Oklahoma." Just like that.

Sergent Jullette finished my paperwork, I went to review and pick up my contract, was fingerprinted and then sat and waited some more. I had lunch with a girl I'd been talking to throughout the entire day. She's also going OCS, but had just been waiting all day long. I'm eager to find out when her ship date is and if we'll be in the same school.

I know this is a rather dry read, but really, it was a rather dry day: a lot of waiting with a few little bits of interest mixed in there. And then around 1:30 they called for those ready to take the Oath of Enlistment.

We were taken to a rather small, but formal room with beautiful wooden walls, plush red carpet, a podium, the flag from each branch of the Military and the American flag. We were instructed on how to stand before the Lieutenant came in and how to stand once he came in and how to stand while taking the oath. Lieutenant Berringer came through the door and the six of us stood at attention: heels together and feet at a 45-degree angle, arms at our sides with closed fists, thumbs facing out and at the seam of our pants.

The Lieutenant spoke of how few people choose this path and how it is a path to be proud of. He spoke of other things but I was to focused on trying not to cry to really hear what he said. I am still a girl! He asked us to raise our right hands and repeat after him:

"I, Gretchen Gaskins, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

As I spoke this aloud, again trying not to cry, I knew that this is what I am meant to do at this time. It was an incredible moment.

With that spoken, I became a soldier in the United States Army.

I leave February 17th for Basic Training. On May 3rd I start Officer's Candidate School. And God willing, I'll be a 2nd Lieutenant a year from now. The adventure has begun and I can't wait to see where it takes me!!!!!

A Year Later

A year ago, I was in Germany. September 9, 2008 was probably one of the best days of my life. IT was the day I sang Gretchen am Sprinnrade in the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. That day will forever be etched in my memory reminding me of how great God truly is and what beautiful gifts He gives to us.

Fast forward to today, September 9th, 2009. I surprisingly got to sing this song again, for much different reasons, but incredible nonetheless!

You need a little back story (This is something I should have shared quite a while ago, but wasn't confident enough for it to be real. It is completely real now!):

I'm joining the Army. And yes! I'm being serious!

About two months ago, my dad and I were talking about what I was doing with my life. I offhandedly made a joke about joining the Army. He wrote me a few days later and said I should really look into it. I'd wanted to join since before college, but instead, did the whole school and life thing. I don't regret it one bit! I did always wonder, though, "what could have been?"

I did a ton of research, decided I wanted to become an Officer and attend Officer's Candidate School (OCS), then talked with a recruiter. I knew, walking in there, that I was a go on this. We set up a time for me to take the ASVAB (the entrance exam) on which I scored phenomenally. After that it was the physical, which I passed. You'll be happy to know I'm not pregnant, and I still have 20/20 vision. But can I just say it was also one of the most awkward things I've ever gone through! Through all this, I was doing a mound of paper work that included writing an essay on "Why I want to be an Army Officer", getting recommendation letters, filling out a 25-page application for a national security position, having background and credit checks run, and collecting my school transcripts, diplomas, and birth certificate.

The only thing left was the OCS Board: an interview with three Officers who either recommend you to attend OCS, or do not recommend you. The board was today.

I was nervous all last night and as I was getting ready this morning, but when I arrived at the Battalion Command, I settled down. I actually do like interviews, so I wasn't too worried. The hard part was the waiting. There were thirteen candidates and I was the very last one. Each interview took about 30-45 minutes and WOW was it a long day! But it was finally my turn and I went in.

Sitting at the table were Major Robinson, a twenty year female Officer, the head of the board and who would give the final approval, Captain Rodriguez, a younger male Officer, and Captain Colbert, a 21 year male Officer.

They asked me to sit down, tell them a little about myself and why I wanted to be an Officer. They asked a few physical fitness questions, a few job related questions, a few travel questions... Then Captain Colbert asked me what I was most proud of in the last five years. I thought for a moment and said my senior recital. I worked so hard for some of the most beautiful pieces of music, and I loved every second of it.

Then, and here is the kicker, Major Robinson asked me to sing something for them. I really thought she was kidding and looked to the two Captains who gave me no guidance. I asked "You really want me to sing?!?!?!?" And she said yes, if I'm so proud of my degree and working hard on my recital, she wanted to hear it. After the initial shock wore off, I stood up and sang.

Gretchen am Spinnrade didn't sound quite as glorious as it did in Bayreuth but it was still one of those moments I will never forget. I finished and the Major said, "Do you know what that tells me? You may have thought that it was a silly request to do that, but what it showed me is that you are confident, energetic, able to think quickly, make snap decisions, and those are all attributes we look for in an Officer."

There were other things that went were asked and said, but I think the song is what did it for them. Major Robinson gave me the highest grade of recommendation to attend OCS and wished me her very best. It really was one of the most incredible days.

I still can't believe all this is happening, but I am so proud of myself and sooooooooooo excited to see where I am going. I finally feel like I may be finding my niche in life. So it took me a little longer, but I think it's going to be awesome! Next up is signing my name on the dotted line, being sworn in as a Soldier, and finding out my ship date for Basic Training. EEK!

And I would like to thank Franz Schubert for writing such an incredible song that means so much to the happenings in my life. Who knew it could travel with me to so many places? And who knows where it might take me next.

Read on here.

Thoughts on Failure

My pseudo-roommate, Jacob, and I were hanging out on the couches yesterday as he procrastinated packing for his move back to Colombia by playing Rock Band. We were both caught up in our own technological worlds and interrupted those with bits of conversation. At one point he asked me, "How do you do with failure."

I had to ask him to clarify. And he kind of narrowed it down to a few, very basic types:

1. The type that won't try anything new unless they know they will be good at it.
2. The type will try a whole bunch of things, fail at some, do well at others, and be great at a few.
or 3. The type that will try new things, but must master one thing before moving on to the next.

Our discussion was very brief, and it mainly focused on Rock Band. Jacob was playing the expert level and said he was the type that would try over and over again until he passed
a song, but he didn't have to get a 100% to pass it. He would be happy just passing.

This made me think... How do I do with failure?

Well, for one thing, nobody likes to fail. It's humbling, demeaning, and over all just really hard to deal with. BUT --- It is inevitable that we will fail at many things through life. I might even argue that we are meant to fail.

That being said, I think I'm okay with failure. I'd rather try and fail at something than never try at all. But I think I'm more the type that will try over and over and over again until I get it right. Not that I've ever played Rock Band, but I think I'd be the type to play again and again until I passed the song. I may not aim for 100%, but I'll keep trying until I get a high enough score. In life, I'm not keen on just letting things fall by the wayside, and saying oh well.

What about you? How do you do with failure?

Highlights

Okay it's been three months since last blog... EEK! And I want to start writing again.

But how does one start from where they left off? Especially when nothing really exciting ever happens? Although that certainly isn't true

The past three months have consisted of:
1. Working.
2. Moving.
3. Painting.
4. Smashing my finger in a doorway.
5. Working.
6. Moving.
7. Painting.
8. Watch my finger turn from blue to black.
9. Working.
10. Moving.
11. Painting.
12. Watching my fingernail fall off.

Pretty exciting life, huh? Actually my life is pretty awesome!

I'm living with some amazing friends out in Morrison, and while I miss my apartment and downtown life, I feel much more content and more Gretchen-like away from it all. I've been watching my friends kids a throughout the summer and have found tons of joy through their sweet laughs. My job has ceased to challenge me in many ways, but I am building deeper friendships there.

Perhaps the most wonderful part of life though, is that I'm pretty sure I know what comes next. I actually think I might know what comes next. Just one more hurdle to get pass through, and I'll be on my way. And then I'll tell you : )

But for now you'll just have to wait.

Bill and Ginny

It's a quiet morning this Memorial Day.

I sit in my apartment, drinking my coffee, and waiting for my hair to dry. I hear the birds chirping and the squirrels squeaking. It's lovely. Like every Memorial Day for the past ten years, I'm working today. Kind of gets in the way of remembering what we're supposed to be remembering.

My mom and Dale are in Kansas City putting flowers on the graves. My granddaddy passed away before I was born, so I only know the stories of how wonderful he was. But I got to know Granny.

She passed away this past October, and now I'm sure she's dancing on the streets of Heaven with her beloved Bill. But for us down here, we just get to remember her.

I hope you get to take a moment today and remember those you love.