I'm in the mess!! or Just when you think you know a person

No this blog is not about my sometimes messy house. Fourteen years ago I met my husband, it's not our anniversary that's due next March, I mention this because I met my husband in the military! Yes I was a soldier for nine years, my first posting was at a Battalion Head Quarters, in the Commanding Officer's Office where I would be an office assistant.

Even though there were women in the Military at least 14yrs before I joined, in this particular battalion (a battle ready battalion) women weren't exactly common. I was one of three women posted there, at nineteen I did not have much working experience, I did do some computer courses but apart from my Secondary (High School to you guys!) certificates I was largely unskilled.

So fresh out of recruit training I began working in the Office, the same office my husband worked, the moment he came through the door I knew it was love at first sight! I could tell he felt the same because he gave me that special smile.............. the smile that said 'I think you're special........... NOT!!!!

Actually it went like this, he walked in, realised that there was a newly trained recruit in the office and gave me the sneer! It's the sneer all recruits get because recruits are the scum of the earth!!

We never really gave each other the time of day, except when work was involved. I was just into my peers, (fellow recruits) and we would eat together in the hall and party together on our time off. Recruits stick together!

Two years into my posting, another batch of recruits joined the battalion and i was no longer on of the 'youngest' soldiers around, finally I would be senior to someone! Finally someone to sneer at! As time went by my coworkers started to accept me as an invaluable member of the office and I was being invited to Office gatherings .

My husband joined the military five years before me so he was senior to me by a lot! Well somehow during the socialising with the office members Kieth and me would end up alone many times and we would talk for hours! Blah blah and we got married. I moved to another battalion and through studies decided a civilian position was better for me being a mom and all that.

So now my husband is to become a sergeant which is prestigious and I am sooo proud of him! They have great parties and extremely formal functions, I remember looking on while still in the Army at the mess members (Sergeants and above) arrived for various functions with their wives looking so glamorous and I would admire that. So now I'll be in the mess too! (good thing i took the shortcut!)