Random things in my life, that I think are ordinary, but you will think are random...

Today and I was driving home from work I looked to my left and saw a military helicopter landing. I took one glance at it and turned away and continued my drive. As I continued home I noticed some civilians on base (they didn't have stickers on their cars, so therefore most likely aren't military) and I saw the faces in the cars I was passing and these people were gawking at the helicopters. It struck me then, that so much stuff happens in my life on a daily basis that some people would be fascinated with, but to me it's just ordinary life. So I'm going to make a list of things that I see on base everyday that throws most people off when they visit me, but I'm like "Oh that's a Huey helicopter, Dustin used to work on those..." to me that is like saying, "There is an elementary school," it's second knowledge and I'm used to it... So here are random things that happen to me everyday that I think are normal. These are just 10 things that I have noticed sitting here, I don't have hours to write out everything...

1. It's normal to be on my way to the grocery store and look to my right and see Humvees with marines in them in full gear: flak jacket, helmet, the whole sh-bang.
2. It's normal to see various marine vehicles on the road while heading to your home. This includes some from other countries, there were a bunch of Humvees from Japan here for a while.
3. Everyone that shops at your grocery store is affiliated with the military. Either they are active, reservists, or retired, but EVERYONE at the store is in the military. In fact you are allowed to wear your camis to the grocery store that is called the Commissary.
4. Seeing a helicopter over your house and having it vibrate it completely normal, and annoying at times.
5. Living near artillery means that you are going to hear a lot of explosions, some of those leading to small brush fires. Fires on Camp Pendleton happen every year.
6. When your husband is with a helicopter unit, Santa comes out of the helicopter for the children. (Just look at the picture, there he is in his suit!)
7. Being married at 18 is no surprise, being married at 18 with no babies is.
8. You live in houses based on your rank, so you know how much everyone makes around you.
9. When you go to the PX (liquor store) on base everyone refers to you as "ma'am" even though they are older than you, and you are a 21 year old wife such as myself.
10. Driving home you see multiple homecoming signs with vulgar things written on them by the wives that are horny from their husbands being gone.

xoxo,
LtotheSS