Today's post is to answer those who have been asking how did I do it? It was all to do with renewing my military spouse ID. An appointment was made and the only time available was on my birthday. I didn’t want to delay it any longer. There are a couple of bases we can go to get it done. We decided on the nearest Marine Corps one.
Security at the gate told us where we needed to go. We ended up parking on a multi-story parking lot next to the building. It was only a small parking area compared to other places we have been to. The first two floors were reserved spaces for active military, third floor was for visitors. It only had three levels but there was no elevator. No problem I told Gregg, I can handle going down those steps. Gregg always looks a bit concerned, stairs and I have had many issues in the past. I repeated, with emphasis, “No problem, honestly!” I got down those steps okay and was feeling proud of myself that nothing untoward happened.
We were at the side of the building and popped our heads through a door, but there was no one around to ask. Gregg said to me, you wait here, and I’ll come back for you when I find the place. Okay I said, but after ten minutes the heat was getting to me even in the shady spot and no bench in sight. (We were having a heatwave and were being warned constantly on the news.) I was starting to feel a bit worse for wear. More time went by when a young marine walked past me and before he disappeared, I got the hook out, figuratively speaking. I asked him if he could tell me where the office was to renew ID’s. He responded with a smile and said, “Yes ma’am, I am going there myself and I can show you.” I happily said that would be lovely, thank you so much and off he went, with me following briskly behind, more briskly than I have been in a long time.
The building was on quite a steep hill, and at the side of it there were a hundred plus steps to climb - oh boy - which young marine took two steps at a time. ‘Oh boy’ became my mantra as I tried to keep up. At least it’s great exercise I thought. (Both father and son rolled their eyes to the ceiling when I told them this later. I got sort of a lecture from son about me trying to keep up with a marine. We all know how fit these guys are, me not so much, fit I mean.)
Young marine was waiting for me at the top and he said that we had to go through ‘this door’, which - oh boy - led to three more long flights of stairs inside the building, no exaggeration. He slowed down for me and finally, after me slowing the poor young man down while the old lady caught up, he deposited me at the door where I was to get my ID done. I thanked him and off he went through another door to get his own ID presumably.
So, there I was, sitting in the waiting room and chuckling at the thought of Gregg walking up the stairs to find that I was already there. I had sent him a text earlier which unfortunately he didn’t see. Yes, he was very surprised, and I beamed and giggled like a school girl getting there first, not that we are competitive or anything. (So, she who laughs first and all that right?) In my defense, not that I needed to defend but I felt a bit guilty, I didn't mean to disappear on him and I told him I had sent him a text, and just had to get inside out of the heat, and had no time to tell him about the young marine, bless his dear heart, and all those blessed steps, before we were called into the office.
We were both impressed at the efficiency and friendliness of the staff and were finished in less than 20 minutes. Loved their air-conditioning and the cool air was very welcome. I was told that because of my age (another young man - he needed training on how to talk to women as old as his grandma, but in all seriousness, he was very sweet), he continued that I would not need any more renewals, this was the last one for life. At that point I could have said “Yippee!”, at the ID and "Yippee!" at the first ever decent ID photo I have ever had, because I have to stare at the thing to the bitter end and yes, I am smiling. It’s the lighting, it was really bright in that room, and I was very happy with the final ID photo. The others across the years have been pretty abysmal.
By this time I was feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
We walked out the door and looked to our left and there was the blessed elevator!!! Yes, that sentence deserves three exclamation points. “Are you kidding me!” I said. Gregg said “I wonder where that goes?” I told him again with emphasis that I didn’t care as long as it goes down, and my inner tortoise and hare mentality kicked in. The hare was through the elevator door first, by this time not hopping but limping a little.
When the elevator reached ground level, we only had to walk down a short corridor and surprise, surprise, exited out the door we had tried when we first arrived. There were rude words in my head, but I was proud of myself for not speaking them out loud.
It was still sweltering. Gregg found a bench for me around the corner and in a shady spot, deposited me there while he fetched the car, and I promised him I wouldn't move an inch. Thankfully by this time there was a slight breeze.
On the way home Gregg asked me how was I feeling? I told him, “Well, my knee is a bit sore.” By the next morning it was pitching a fit.
The doctor’s appointment was made after almost a week of supporting myself by walking around the house leaning on every piece of furniture, and it wasn’t getting any better as I had hoped. It was x-rayed and I have been told there is arthritis also. I have to go back in three months, sooner if it gets worse, and no climbing steps, no kidding! I was given a prescription for a topical ointment which has the same effect as my go-to pain medication, but without the problematic side effects. And no walking around our favorite spots for a while, and as I say yet again, most definitely no steps.
So, there you go, I hope that answers a few questions.
Thanks for sticking with the story through to the end. It is a bit of a long one.
Have a great day everyone, and for any Marine Corps friends out there, Semper Fi!
