Veteran's Day

This guy is a veteran:

He's also my grandpa. I grew up hearing the story about how his nose is crooked from the rifle butt he took to the face during the war, but in reality, he worked in a hospital. I'm not sure he saw too many rifles. My guess is it was a brawl.

This guy is also a vet:

His name is Jerry and he's married to my grandma (right there next to him). I don't know too much about Jerry's service, except that he was in Japan during the war, and has NO interest in going back (I know this because my brother and sister in law lived there for a while, and my grandma went to visit them alone as Jerry was perfectly happy not going).

Another vet:

My amazing father in law, with my mother in law and all their grandkids! He was a fighter pilot in the AF, and spent time stationed in Europe when their kids (one of whom I obviously think is pretty great) were the same age our kids are now. We pretty much live our lives based on theirs.

These guys are all vets. And also all serious athletes:

But that one in the orange sunglasses, I am particularly fond of that one. He's my favorite veteran.

I never really understood the supposed attraction for women to a man in uniform until I met this one. He's hot. In uniform or not, but I gotta say, he's pretty sharp looking in any of his uniforms. Unfortunately, at the time of this picture, his wife was about 24 months pregnant and was not looking quite so hot. More bloated and exhausted, really. Good thing that award is so big to help detract from the lady.

I think it's important that everyone understand how serious it is to be a veteran. A veteran would never, say, use a couple of his uniforms to dress up for Halloween with his wife as an instructor and a student. Especially not if his students were being mocked in the process.

There are definitely times where it's hard being married to a veteran who is still currently serving. For instance, sometimes said veteran might make you wear a parachute and gear while they practice some drill they have to be able to perform in a certain amount of time (can you tell how well I paid attention to exactly what we were practicing?)

And sometimes they might go off to war when you are eight months pregnant.

**Side note in all seriousness: my veteran missed the birth of his son while he was off helping to defend our freedom, but he came home healthy, mentally and physically. We owe all of our gratitude to those veterans who are not so lucky, and their loved ones who either live with a changed man/woman, or who live without their man/woman at all. You are the true heroes of our country.**

There are also the great times that come along with being married to an active duty veteran. Like when they finally come home.

Or when they take you to fancy functions where you get to get all dressed up.

So in honor of Veteran's Day, THANK YOU, all of you, who have served or are serving in our armed forces.