Wing Wife
In Wing Wife, Marcia J. Sargent relates a true love story with all the romance and pathos that she lived it as the wife of a Marine pilot. It begins with her marriage to Andy Sargent and continues as she shares military life with him. She soon learns that being a Marine pilot’s wife is fraught with fear as well as joy. With Andy’s help, she learns the politics of supporting him by attending military ceremonies, wives coffees and parties that include husbands and wives.
“Although the guys needed no excuse to party at each other’s houses or the O-Club, wives used practical reasons like kitchenware parties, baby or wedding showers.”
She endures the wives coffees; but she truly enjoys the impromptu get togethers of the wives whose friendships she has made through their shared circumstances. The coffees are almost as ceremonial as some of the military rituals and just as uncomfortable. The impromptu gatherings include Tupperware, wedding showers and baby showers parties.
Marcia’s ability to relate the traditional ceremonies of the Marine Corp made me feel as if I was there and goose bumps popped up on my arms. She describes a Change of Command ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance it is entitled to and tells of how uncomfortable it is to be in the viewing audience. The Marine birthday party that she attends is full of Marine ritual in the beginning and then the informal part of it is fun for all.
The mixed parties provide a way of forgetting for the men and women. There is a lot of hilarity in these informal rituals that both the husbands and wives employ to make their underlying fears easier to bear.
Births play a large part in the lives of these men and women. At one point in her story, there were five wives who became pregnant at one time.
She tells of the deaths of flyers and the sorrow and grief that follow in a very poignant and realistic manner. It is hard to deal with when it is a friend, but even harder when it is a family member. Many strong bonds are formed through shared lives.
Read this book for the well-written insight it gives about Marine life or just for the enjoyment.
Marcia J. Sargent lived the Marine life from 1975 to 1987. When her husband retired, she began teaching elementary school and worked as a language arts mentor for her school district. She now spends her time with her husband in Laguna Beach along with a Golden Retriever named Sir Lancelot, an African Grey parrot, named Princess Aurora and a cat named Snickelfritz.
“Although the guys needed no excuse to party at each other’s houses or the O-Club, wives used practical reasons like kitchenware parties, baby or wedding showers.”
She endures the wives coffees; but she truly enjoys the impromptu get togethers of the wives whose friendships she has made through their shared circumstances. The coffees are almost as ceremonial as some of the military rituals and just as uncomfortable. The impromptu gatherings include Tupperware, wedding showers and baby showers parties.
Marcia’s ability to relate the traditional ceremonies of the Marine Corp made me feel as if I was there and goose bumps popped up on my arms. She describes a Change of Command ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance it is entitled to and tells of how uncomfortable it is to be in the viewing audience. The Marine birthday party that she attends is full of Marine ritual in the beginning and then the informal part of it is fun for all.
The mixed parties provide a way of forgetting for the men and women. There is a lot of hilarity in these informal rituals that both the husbands and wives employ to make their underlying fears easier to bear.
Births play a large part in the lives of these men and women. At one point in her story, there were five wives who became pregnant at one time.
She tells of the deaths of flyers and the sorrow and grief that follow in a very poignant and realistic manner. It is hard to deal with when it is a friend, but even harder when it is a family member. Many strong bonds are formed through shared lives.
Read this book for the well-written insight it gives about Marine life or just for the enjoyment.
Marcia J. Sargent lived the Marine life from 1975 to 1987. When her husband retired, she began teaching elementary school and worked as a language arts mentor for her school district. She now spends her time with her husband in Laguna Beach along with a Golden Retriever named Sir Lancelot, an African Grey parrot, named Princess Aurora and a cat named Snickelfritz.