Gratitude

I waited in the lobby before the Corpsman called me into the room. We did our formalities, and she asked me, “why do you want to become an officer.”

I used to ask that question many times over in my career. The frustrations I’ve dealt with at my level and thinking about dealing with those frustrations in a group with more expectations.

“I want to serve my Marines in a greater capacity and take on the challenges that no one else wants to deal with. I’ll look back and think how naive and oblivious I am. I don’t have a family now, but I want to be a good example for my future family and use the Marine Corps as the foundation.”

“Oh wow, you passed.”

“ I didn’t know it was a test,” and we laughed.

The doctor that was doing my physical has been a joy every time I’ve walked in and been assisted by her. But today, I was reminded of when I was a kid during the physical. Picking up my feet, checking my knee reflex, eyes, strength in my hands, etc..…

At that moment, I felt younger. I didn’t feel my aging face and the bags underneath my eyes. I didn’t notice the stress interwoven in my shoulders.

I looked up and reflected on the moment of driving Madre to her appointment. Sitting in the office and listening to what the doctor had to say about her cancer. I look down at the ground, being brought back to the ICU, and hearing the nurses doing their rounds. And I sat against the wall with old Dunkin’ Donuts coffee that was extra bitter that day.

“You were an easy physical,” the doctor mentioned.

I smiled and knew that one day, my body would be in pain and have underlying health issues of some sort. But today, I’m grateful for the strength I have.