Let's Rewind Just Like the Cassette Tape

Hello, I'm Krystal Rae. Just like a song, book, or movie, we don't begin in the middle. So, let's pause for a moment, press rewind, and allow me to share a bit about myself.

At thirty-eight years old, I haven't experienced a mid-life crisis yet, although the recent Summer made it feel like one. However, let's save that discussion for another post! I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho, and I didn't leave until I got married in my early twenties and moved to Twenty-Nine Palms, California. Wondering where that is? I was the same way - it's a very small town in California that houses a United States Marine Corps Base. I resided there for about five years and gave birth to my oldest, Jayden, who is now 16 years old.

Following our five-year stay in Twenty-Nine Palms, we relocated to Oceanside, California, where we resided on the Marine Base. Throughout this period, I assumed the role of a full-time mother to Jayden, participated in Mommy and Me Preschool activities with him, and dedicated my time to volunteering with the Family Readiness Program within the 1st Marine Regiment. My then-husband was assigned to this unit and embarked on a 12-month deployment. Upon his return, I discovered I was expecting our second child and subsequently gave birth to another son, Jamison, who is now 12 years old.

After coming back from abroad, certain military personnel encounter difficulties. In my situation, my then spouse was let go from the Marine Corps due to military cutbacks. We moved to Idaho to be nearer to loved ones after being away for eight years. Nevertheless, upon our arrival, my spouse made the decision to no longer fulfill his responsibilities as a spouse and parent, leaving me to look after our two young sons, aged 6 and 2. This was particularly hard to grasp, especially for our six-year-old who had to see his father depart once more, first for a 12-month deployment and then permanently, despite assuring his return.

In 2014, I initiated divorce proceedings and secured a part-time job to support my children. One day, my father noticed an advertisement in the local newspaper stating that the College of Western Idaho was seeking candidates to join the first Law Enforcement Academy hosted by a college in our region of Idaho. I submitted my application, was contacted by the Chief, and commenced the selection process, including a polygraph test and fingerprinting. I successfully completed the academy on a fast track, obtaining certification in Patrol and Detention for the state of Idaho. I graduated in 2016 and was hired by my current employer, the Sheriff's Office, and my divorce became final!

In 2018, there was a persistent man who expressed interest in going on dates. Due to my trust issues and reluctance to introduce a man to my children, fearing they might become attached or hurt, I initially hesitated. After disappearing a few times, I eventually decided to give him a chance. We arranged to meet at the local corn maze in September, with me making it clear that my boys would be joining us. He agreed, and on a September evening, the boys and I drove to the corn maze to meet him. Upon introduction, an immediate connection formed between the boys and Jake, particularly with Jamison, who surprisingly started calling him Daddy within an hour. It was quite embarrassing, causing me to turn bright red with no place to hide.

Skipping ahead from the numerous dates and vacations we enjoyed, we eventually tied the knot in 2020 amidst the COVID pandemic, with only a small number of guests present. Now, let's fast forward to 2024, a completely different chapter. This brings you up to speed with the present, where I can briefly mention the somewhat turbulent Summer of 2024.

Tell next time hope you enjoyed the first track!