Three Little Words

Life often changes with three little words.

“I love you.”

“Surprise! It’s twins!”

“Let’s cancel cable.”

Our life just went bum over teakettle when I told Big Sarge it was time to renew the lease. He looked at me and said three little words:

“Month-to-month.”

Sure, I knew that the promotion board was coming up this month and that there was a possibility he could be promoted, but it didn’t really set in my head until he spoke those words.

What if this happens?

What if we move?

Where would we move? California? Kansas? Germany?

Let me take a few deep breaths into a paper bag and then several sips of wine…

I’m good, I’m good. It’s just that I’m a planner, and not knowing is harder than waiting for the next season of Bates Motel to come out on Netflix after you’ve binge-watched all four seasons in three days.

I mean… I’ve heard. Not that I’ve done that. Ever.

First thing I have to do is focus on the known knowns. The things that I know that I know.

For example, I know if he doesn’t get picked up for promotion we’re staying here.

I know we’ll find out the results of the promotion board in April or May.

I know I’m graduating in May (as long as I pass all my classes this semester), so it doesn’t really matter if we move or not, vis-a-vis my education.

Next, I have to focus on the known unknowns. These are things I know I don’t know.

Despite that impressive list of transcripts that is almost as tall as me, there is a lot I don’t know. Like how to speak Spanish, even though I took two semesters of it. Lo siento, Senor Moreno.

I don’t know where our next duty station is (please be Germany).

I don’t know if we would have to move in the middle of the girls’ school year.

I don’t know if we’re going to be able to find a home for the “bonus” kitty that found her way into our house before we move. (If anyone wants a cat named Puddin’ who likes to sleep in bathroom sinks, please let me know.)

When I break it down, even though there’s a lot I don’t know, it’s more manageable to me. I didn’t know that Big Sarge was going to call me up one day and tell me that we were moving to Alaska, and it turned out to be the biggest adventure we’ve had.

Whatever the military decides for us, I’ve got my own three words for it:

BRING. IT. ON.