in U N I F O R M

I'm normally not one to worry excessively about anything. That doesn't mean I don't get stressed out- that happens plenty, especially in the last six months. I am {and always have been} one who can usually pull things together at the last minute, sometimes that's when I work the best. Why worry for two weeks about an assignment or task when it can be completed in an evening? Not a great quality, I know.

I like to think I'm an optimist and rarely expect the worst to happen. I get worked up about certain things, but overall feel pretty calm most of the time even in the midst of the craziness and happy chaos in a family with four boys.

Yesterday, that wasn't the case.

Jim let me know he was going to stop at a German grocery store on his way home from work. I didn't think twice about it. At about 4:00, he emailed me to let me know he was getting ready to head out. I anticipated him to walk in the door by 5:00 at the latest. When 5:30 rolled around and he wasn't home, the anxiety kicked in. Within minutes, I was terrified. Terrified he wasn't home knowing he went out on the economy in his uniform. A little paranoid, maybe. However, this is the first time in my life I have experienced this kind of anxiety and paranoia. It's also the first time I've lived abroad.

It's a very uncomfortable {putting it mildly} feeling to be in a foreign country and well aware that those around us are not always fond of Americans. Especially in light of the events this week, the world is not in harmony with decisions the US government has made. We're grateful to be in Germany {did I really just say that?} but it is still far from being on American soil.

I'm sure everyone in our village knows we are an American household. I have Willkommen on our front door, flowers in pots and hang laundry- doesn't matter. We just got a magazine delivered to our mailbox and the tag line reads, "the magazine for the American community..." Ok, they know. But, when hanging laundry, I still feel the need to turn the clothing with US flags, or Jim's uniforms to the inside or hidden a little so it's not so blatent. It's a strange feeling- I'm definitely not ashamed, but more concerned with hanging it all out there.

While grocery shopping in uniform in the US {as much as he hated it} Jim regularly had people shake his hand out of no where and thank him for his service to our country. Usually, it was the older couples who would stop him in the aisles- always a proud moment for me to watch.

Yesterday, he made it home just fine. He was held up in his office, but did say he got quite a few glares from other shoppers in the German store. Could have been the normal German stare, or more- who knows?

Even being late, he did walking in with flowers in hand and a wife relieved and happy to see him.

It doesn't make me feel any better receiving this alert today, but I do have a greater appreciation for the freedoms of living in the United States. Next month, he's going to a country that I can't even pronounce. I might be a little stressed again.

Worldwide travel alert

Due to current world events, U.S. citizens overseas are encouraged to limit travel outside their homes and hotels, and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with local media coverage and maintain awareness of surroundings at all times.