Its all about me!

As a brief intro about today I will tell you that over the past few weeks (ok months) I have determined that there are an awful lot of selfish people out there. The strange thing about it is they think everyone else is selfish. It blows my mind! Maybe Im one of them and I dont even know it. Could I be a delusional self - lover... well that sounded kinda gross but you get the point. There are those out there, we all have them for friends, that think no matter what shitty thing happened to you today whatever happened to them was worse. It could have happened to them today, yesterday or in the fourth grade but whatever it was it tops whatever bad thing you wanted them to make you feel better about.
Upon reflecting on this phenomenon I found an old writing of mine circa 2008. I wrote it before my husband deployed and we were still just young fools in love. I believe it was deployment number 2 for us? Maybe it was number 3. Hell, who knows the point remains the same. Sometimes we need a reminder that in this life there are other people along for the ride with us.
Enjoy my little story of pre - deployment self- realization:

So here it is 8:30pm (whatever that is in military time) on the last weekend before he deploys and I ready myself for dinner. Truth be told I have been readying myself for our last date night for at least a month. He, however, is packing his gear and I do everything I can do distract myself from everything that this task means. I straighten my hair, put on the dress that he likes so much, pretend that it doesnt piss me off that we are going to miss the movie that he told me he would take me too, put on my make up, straighten my hair again... then I notice he is still in sweats and still checking his gear list. So I, in aggrivation, take my engagement ring off and set it by the sink. I dont know what exactly this is supposed to symbolize but I figure whatever it is I dont want him to notice so I decide that Ill start doing dishes and laundry... all while wearing my little black dress. I begin to think to myself "self what the hell are you doing..." My former self would never in a million years wait for a man. In fact it was something that I was proud of. But now the dishes are done and he is is still packing gear... and there are more things in varying colors of camo that have accumulated next to the washing machine. I suppose thats a hint that they need to be washed. In stead of taking my ball and going home I pick up all things camo and stuff them in the wash... and begin to ponder his call to duty. Thus I begin to think about my call. I mean for God's sake I have a masters degree. I am in law school. I am not a confused little housewife that does dishes, and laundry, and waits for him to take me to dinner. At least I thought I wasnt. But then I remember that this isnt about me... not even a little bit not even at all. My call to duty is the same as his. Yet we go about it in different ways. I put my ring back on and I tell him that I love him. I empty the washing machine as I hum the Marine Corps hymn and my eyes begin to tear. I love my country and I love him. This isnt about me not even a little bit not even at all...