The Greatest Generation
About Grandma Ruby
by Mollie Gross
My future husband and I had only been dating for six months when he got orders to the West Coast. We wanted to be together so, we told our families and eloped the next weekend. Instantly I was apart of an entirely new military culture and had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Immediately after the “I do” Jon started telling me what I needed to take care of before our PCS in three months.
He also started referring to me as his dependant. On top of not knowing what he was talking about, he informed me I needed to get my military ID, change my name and sign up for TRICARE. I kept my mouth shut and smiled sweetly like the blushing bride I was. My new husband was going to be gone right up until we moved and I needed some serious advice and guidance, and I needed it now. I then realized the perfect person to help prepare me for my new role.
Grandma Ruby
Grandma Ruby, my mother’s mother, had been a military spouse for more than 25 years. The similarities between grandma and I don’t stop with our attraction for men in uniform. We are both sassy, outspoken and strive to be the center of attention. My husband jokes that I learned the art of manipulation from her. I have to admit it has been a handy skill, especially when you are married to a bull-headed grunt.
She met her husband at an oyster roast and I met mine at a fish fry. She eloped herself with my grandfather as he geared up years ago to deploy to WWII with the Army Air Corps. In her long career as a military spouse she had lived all over the world and had seven children, all while granddad served in WWII and Korea.
Although I knew nothing about the military, I grew up seeing granddaddy’s old military pictures and mementos. Their entire home had collectibles from all around the world and I remember laughing at my grandma’s old military ball pictures because she was pregnant in all of them. I decided to make a special pilgrimage to see her.
The few months that Jon and I were married but living apart were difficult, but I really treasured the weekends I spent with my grandma. I will always treasure my special talks with her. I think she enjoyed reliving her military life memories with me as well. In the coming years, I reached out to her many times when Jon was deployed. She was my rock as she had gone through many deployments with granddad. My grandma has more than twenty- six grandchildren and, with a family that big, it can be hard to get face time with anyone. I will always consider myself blessed to have such a unique relationship with such a wonderful lady. I learned we shared so much more than just our common sassy nature. We also shared strength.
Grandma Ruby’s Story:
She was living in Germany and had four children at the time. She was suffering from an earache, and called my granddad to watch the kids during lunch so she could go to the doctor. He came home and they made the swap. She only had a short time to get to the doctor’s and back. Once there she informed the clerk at the desk that she was there to be seen for an earache to which he replied, “I am sorry Ms. Ruby, but the doctor only sees pregnant women today.”
To that she retorted, “Well if that is the case, I’ll be happy to run home and get pregnant real quick, but I would prefer we skip it and just get my ear looked at now, thank you.” Thank goodness the doctor overheard the commotion and was very familiar with my grandma and all her children. He agreed to see her right away.
Mollie Gross is a former Marine Spouse, author, professional standup comedienne, and public speaker. She travels to military bases performing her Military Wife Comedy Show. To see her tour schedule, buy a copy of her audio CD, or book please visit www.molliegross.com or www.myspace.com/janewaynecomedy. To hear an interview of Grandma Ruby and her life as a military wife visit Mollie’s Web site.