Flip n Switch

Anyone who knows anything about the Army knows that nothing is written in stone. Ever. You can't believe that something will happen until it actually does. This, obviously, makes planning future events near impossible. 

I experienced my first Army flip n switch last March. I headed out to visit Hubby, who was my then fiance, over my spring break. I ran into his arms at the airport, euphoria. We were finally together again. He lugged my overpacked suitcase to the car and I trotted alongside him to keep up as we headed into the sun, heat and humidity. The warm air felt good on my face. I closed my eyes, turned my face up toward the sun, feeling the Hawaiian rays on my skin. "Does it get any better than this," I thought to myself. We hopped in the car and headed into the constant traffic.

   

"We just have to stop by work for this thing," said Hubby.

"What thing?"

"I don't know, some promotion ceremony, we won't be there long."

I was exhausted from my 10 hour round trip flight and even more exhausted from listening to the woman next to me tell her life story full with the juicy details I really didn't need to hear. 'Whatever,' I thought. 'How bad could it be?' Little did I know that I would experience for the first time, the infamous Army flip n switch. 

We parked the car and strolled into the building. Hubby introduced me to about ten co-workers, who, all dressed in BDUs, looked exactly the same to me. We made our rounds chatting with several groups of guys, finally settling down next to some older, obviously higher-ranking men. 

"Cpt. Bird," said Hubby. "This is my fiancee."

"Nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand.

"You too," he muttered. 

"So, LT.," Cpt Bird said to Hubby. "We've been looking at the NTC schedule and looks like you two lovebirds aren't gonna be having that wedding of your dreams. They moved it on up."

"Sir, that's messed up, I hope you're joking," said Hubby.

I just stared blankly at Cpt. Bird and his fellow Cpt. laughing at the little Lt. and his fiancee, basking in our misery.

"Look for yourself LT," Cpt Bird laughed. 

"Ready to go," I asked, blatantly ignoring the arrogant Cpts. 

I turned to acknowledge Hubby's superior's, nodded my head, "nice to meet you," I managed to spit out.

I grabbed my purse and Hubby's hand, and quicker than you just read that sentence, we were back out in the sun. I was horrified. Our wedding was planned for August 18, we already had the photographer, church, DJ and reception site booked and here we were five months away from the big day with nothing. I had to start from scratch. We were silent for the walk to the car, keeping the verbal and emotional vomit from escaping me. As soon as we were in the car, it all came out. 

"What a jerk!" I exclaimed. "Can you believe how rude he was?! Ughhh, I hate the Army. Do you know that now we're gonna have to change everything? How is this going to work?" What am I supposed to do?"

"Calm down baby," Hubby said, his voice rational and calm. "Everything will work out, it always does."

I shot him a doubtful glare.

"Trust me?"

"Yeah..."

And in less than 20 minutes I had not only experiences my first Army flip n switch, a whole new plate of stress had landed on my lap. 

I never really understood how the Army can be so unpredictable. If the Army were a private organization, it would be long out of business. 

Thank you United States Army, for making me plan my wedding twice.