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In the words of Elizabeth Taylor, “I don't pretend to be an ordinary housewife.”

It is an atypical life I lead, being the wife of a firefighter. I am not the normal suburban housewife, that’s for sure.

In my world I am “married” 2/3 to 1/2, of the time depending on how many extra shifts my husband works. The rest of the time I am by my lonesome, left to lounge on my own. Independence is a must. But, for an only child, this is not such a bad set up. I have “my” time and the whole house, including a king size bed, to myself. Then other days I get to “play house!” Honestly, I would not know how to live any other way- I guess because as a married couple, we haven’t known any other way.

Military wives have different woes, not seeing their spouse for months at a time. I can only imagine the angst felt by that long separation. On the other hand, being the wife of a firefighter is an ongoing daily adjustment. One night they are there, the next they are not. Self-sufficiency is a necessity. Even if you are planning to have a “married day,” that phone call comes at any moment to tell you he is staying at the station. Insert self sufficiency here: He was supposed to by the dog food…..! If I could not load up a 40 pound bag of dog food myself, I would be out of luck with two hungry dogs!

Anyway, hubby was recently presented with the honor of "Firefighter of the Year." My initial thought: "That's so great!" My realistic reasoning: "If I am going to take the backseat to a dern firetruck, at least I know that he is excelling and showing such effort at the job he loves!"

I have got to digest these thoughts and let them influence my spirit, because forgiveness is not an option when attempting to maintain a healthy state of mind.........

I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast. ~Marlene Dietrich

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. ~Mahatma Gandhi

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. ~Paul Boese

Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself. ~Harriet Nelson

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. ~George Herbert

I do not claim to be a walking dictionary (though my mother oddly is). However, I do have an expanded vocabulary, with a golden rule: I do not use words that I do not know the meaning of! Because, well......that would just be ignorant!

The following is not a big word, it is used rather often in situations of any conflict....but lately I have noticed that this particular word is repeated by those that honestly just want their way and do not actually want to follow through with the entire definition....

com·pro·mise ( n. )
1. a. A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions.
b. The result of such a settlement.
2. Something that combines qualities or elements of different things.