Home >> Summer 2010 >> Shopping with Kate: Farewell [by Kate Dyer]
Shopping with Kate: The Farewell Address
It is with joy and sadness that I write this farewell to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. When we first arrived to this base we attended a Welcome Aboard class given by Personal Readiness and Community Support. A sweet cheerful lady named Maigen Rowe gave us a ton of information about the high desert and she said something that has stuck with me. “A common saying about Twentynine Palms is that spouses usually cry when they arrive and they cry when they leave.” This couldn’t be truer for me. I was nervous when we first moved to Twentynine Palms about the quality of life my husband and I would enjoy. However, our time in Twentynine Palms has been a blessing beyond measure. We have made eternal friends, grown in our marriage and fallen in love with the traditions and people that make up the United States Marine Corps.
I started out substitute teaching for the Morongo Unified School District, but I felt drawn to be more involved on base. My husband is a Navy dentist, so there was a lot we didn’t know about the Marine Corps. When I saw a position open up in MCCS Marketing, I decided it would be a great opportunity for me to get to know other military spouses and to learn more about the Marines. Working for MCCS has given me an insider look into all that is done to enhance the quality of life for military families. If you think there is a program that would better help your family adjust to all the demands of deployment and reunion, then all you need to do is call Marine Corps Family Team Building. They are consistently offering great new programs to fit the changing needs of military families.
Another super fun thing about my job with MCCS Marketing is that I was given the opportunity to share something I love with other military spouses, SHOPPING! Writing this shopping column has felt more like fun than work. I have treasured being able to share my shopping adventures with you all, from the first article I wrote about the VillageFest on Thursday nights in downtown Palm Springs to the mountains of Big Bear, the seaside city of San Diego to many other enjoyable outings. It has been my pleasure to share these great shopping escapades with you. There are many other places still for you to explore, like the sales in Las Vegas or the quirky boutiques on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Southern California is a shopper’s paradise.
However, my time to explore this shopping mecca has ended. My husband and I are moving to Houston, Texas where he will do his orthodontic residency. We are remaining active duty and are already looking forward to our next duty station with the Marines. If you happen to be shopping at the Houston Galleria, then look out because we may both be grabbing for the same top.
So, it is with joy that I look forward to all the great adventures that await me in Texas, but it is with sadness that I say goodbye to all the lovely moments spent in Twentynine Palms.
