For some reason network marketing seems to attacted former military people.  I'm not sure why this is.  Maybe it is because after so many years of being under Uncle Sam's thumb they like the freedom to schedule their own time.  Maybe it's because after being out in the field they need the challenge and corresponding high when things go well.  I don't really know. 

One trait that Robin, as retired military, has never gotten out of his system is the necessity for being on time.  For most people, being on time is goal not a lifestyle.  For him, it is a non-negotiable fact that we will be on time.   Staying on time can be a real challenge when kids are involved.   In our house, even the baby has learned that when it's time to go, it's time to go! (Heaven help you if you have to go to the bathroom before you leave!)  We have cut it a little close sometimes, but more often than not, we make it.  (Okay, I admit that occasionally I go a little slower than I need to...)

He also has this entire speech about how when you are late you are stealing time from the other person that is waiting for you and that you can pay someone back if you take money, but you can never pay back time, and on and on. (The kids have it memorized--verbatim.) True of course, but of interest to me is that he doesn't see that being half an hour early is stealing time from himself or someone who had to drive him (ummm...like me).  That doesn't seem to count.  I think at this point he owes me about a week and a half.   We have had many "discussions" about this during our almost three years of marriage.  No, he has not admitted to any inconsistency in his thinking. 

One thing I have discovered, being on time does not mean the same thing to everyone.  When I lived in south Florida, being on time for a party meant somewhere between 30-60 minutes after the time the party was supposed to start.  If you showed up on time, the hostess was probably still in her bathrobe.  On time in New Mexico was any time 15 minutes after the party started.  You just kind of wandered in whenever.  In the midwest, on time means 10 minutes early so you are actually ready to go when the party is scheduled to start.  Needless to say, Robin is much happier with the midwest definition.    I won't even talk about what happens when people are late when they are meeting with him!

Well, better get this posted so that it is out there on time! If any of you can relate, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

Kathy