Season Passes To The Air Force Amusement Park
by Heather G
Recall for a moment your favorite roller coaster as a kid. You know, the one for which you endured long lines in the hot sun, and rode over and over again despite your parents’ and friends’ pleas to try something else. There were the sounds… the clinking metal with the rhythmic way it slowed just before the dive and your heart beating so hard you could hear its thump in your ears. You knew when to hold your breath, when to close your eyes, and when to brace yourself for the drop that was about to come. And most of all, you knew the exact moment to open your eyes and enjoy the view at the summit despite knowing there was a valley ahead. Air Force life is my adult roller coaster. There are the times when I feel my heart just might thump right out of my chest in anxious anticipation of the next deployment or PCS. The sound of metal still rings in my ears. Only now it has taken on such forms as my husband’s dog tags as he leans over to pick up my son who fell asleep on the couch while watching him pack. But the views from the summits are glorious. There is nothing like the pure joy on my daughter’s face when she spots her daddy in a sea of uniforms in the terminal. Or the breathtaking vista of the Swiss Alps during one of our many family vacations while stationed in Germany. Sometimes friends and family still encourage us to get off this ride and try a new one. But just like when we were kids, we continue to shrug our shoulders with a knowing smile and strap ourselves in. The thrill of the ride alone keeps us coming back for more.