Four weekends ago, I went to my very first military ball.
Here are some of my favorite moments from the evening:
-Driving with another Marine girlfriend through downtown San Diego to get to the hotel.
-The gorgeous sunset and candlelit balcony over-looking the San Diegan water. Seriously? It was breath-taking.
-A video they played about September 11th and all the Marines who stepped in to save lives. Someone on the video said that as soon as they heard “United States Marines” being yelled through the rubble, they knew they would be okay. I may or may not have shed a few tears at that part.
-Leaving, haha…and the comfortable conversation between Ethan and I as we drove back up the coast.
Some girls told me that they were jealous I got to go to a military ball. Some said they thought it would be “magical.” But “magical” it was not—at least for me. More than anything, I was thankful that Ethan and I were on the same page and realized that most of it was a show. We were both eager to leave once the ceremony and dinner were over and I couldn’t have been happier to take his arm as he escorted me out of that ballroom.
If I got anything from the evening, though, it was this: When the ceremony was going on and all the Marines stood at attention, I understood that I will never know. I will never know what they give. I will never know what it feels like to know that each moment of your life is spent in preparation to give it up at a moment’s notice. I understood that I can sleep safely in my bed because these men are choosing not to sleep safely. I understood that I was surrounded by men who may not return home because they are protecting me. And you. I understood that I may not experience even a percentage of the evil that is present in this world—and only because they are willing to take that evil upon themselves.
In my own mind, it was a powerful, profound moment. There were no Disney movie moments and I didn't see any fairy dust being sprinkled from the ceiling. But as we exited the ballroom that night, my right arm holding tightly to Ethan's left, I looked up at him knowing that he is one of those men who stand guard at our country's gate. He is one who has made it his job to ensure that I sleep soundly at night, covered by their blanket of defense and out of harm's way.
And the best part of all that? He is mine. And for that, I could not be more proud.
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