Brandi Loyd:  

it was fun and often times exciting, it could also be scary, demanding, and overwhelming. It's not easy to unearth government corruption without catching flack... or interview a grieving mother without bias against the man who killed her son... or leave your own newborn behind with relatives at the drop of a hat and fly out-of-state to cover the capture of a fugitive serial killer. I learned that there's more to life than a career. I learned that I'm more productive when I'm not micro-managed by an idiot with an agenda, and that there's more money (and appreciation) to be had in using my writing skills for a computer software company. Military Although I nearly joined the military, I didn't. No... Instead, I married into the military. My husband is a former Marine reservist who went from jarhead to squid when he went active duty... a firefighter on a ship who was in the battle group that shot down the Lybian MIG during the Reagan years and spent months in the Middle East during Dessert Sheild/Dessert Storm. I've waved from the shore and cried as his ship put to sea. I've sat riveted to the news and worried for his safety as war raged in a far away desert land. I've stood on the shore and raced into his arms when he returned safely home. I've written letters and sent pics of our baby he'd seen maybe four times in the first two years of our son's life. And I've nursed him as he lay nearly paraplegic, suffering through months (and now years) of pain as a disabled veteran. But I wouldn't change a moment of it. My love for a man who in turn loves his country and family enough to fight for both remains strong. We all have a role to play in life...If he could, I know he'd still be in the military and out there somewhere representing the US and protecting this nation's interests and freedoms. He can't, but when the call came before, he answered that call and did his duty. For that and much more...I strive to do mine as wife, lover and friend.