What is a MILITARY Wife?
> >
> > They may look different and each is wonderfully unique, but
> > this what they have in common.
> >
> > They have THIS IN COMMON!
> >
> > Lots of moving---
> >
> > Moving.
> >
> > Moving.
> >
> > Moving far from home.
> >
> > Moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with
> > HER of course.
> >
> > Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS
> > house.
> >
> > Moving curtains that won't fit.
> >
> > Moving jobs and certifications and professional development
> > hours.
> >
> > Moving away from friends, moving toward new friends.
> >
> > Moving her most important luggage; her trunkful of
> > memories.
> >
> > Often waiting-
> >
> > Waiting, waiting, waiting for housing; waiting for orders;
> > waiting for deployment; waiting for reunion; waiting for
> > phones calls; Waiting for the new curtains to arrive;
> > waiting for him to come home for dinner----AGAIN!
> >
> > They call her 'military dependent', but she knows
> > better.
> >
> > She can balance a checkbook.
> >
> > Handle the yard work.
> >
> > Fix a noisy toilet.
> >
> > She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and
> > toggle bolts.
> >
> > She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up
> > a move, -- all with ONE Power of Attorney.
> >
> > She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
> >
> > Reinvents her career with every PCS; locates a house in the
> > desert, the arctic, or the deep south and learns to call
> > them all 'home'.
> >
> > She MAKES them all home.
> >
> > She is fiercely IN-dependent.
> >
> > Military Wives are somewhat hasty.
> >
> > They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career
> > alternatives, churches and friendships.
> >
> > They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
> >
> > Their roots are short but flexible.
> >
> > They plant annuals for themselves and Perennials for those
> > who come after them.
> >
> > Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.
> >
> > They connect over
> > coffee, rely on the spouse-network and accept offers of
> > friendship and favors and record addresses in pencil.
> >
> > Military Wives have a common bond.
> >
> > The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands, his
> > commitment is unique. He doesn't have a job, he has a
> > 'mission' he can't just decide to quit. He's
> > on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's the most
> > unreliable guy in town!
> >
> > His language is foreign:
> >
> > TDY
> >
> > PCS
> >
> > MOS
> >
> > FOB
> >
> > ACU
> >
> > And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and
> > his.
> >
> > She is the long-distance link to keep them informed the
> > glue that holds them together.
> >
> > A Military Wife has her moments----
> >
> > She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, and
> > refuse to move to Siberia...
> >
> > But she pulls herself together.
> >
> > Give her a few days, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a
> > pledge to the flag, and a wedding picture.
> >
> > And she goes.
> >
> > She
> > packs.
> >
> > She moves.
> >
> > She follows.
> >
> > Why?
> >
> > What for?
> >
> > How come?
> >
> > You may think it is because she has lost her mind..
> >
> > But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
> >
> > It was stolen from her by a man...
> >
> > Who puts duty first.
> >
> > Who longs to deploy.
> >
> > Who salutes the flag.
> >
> > And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as
> > he is her Military husband,
> >
> > She will remain his Military
> > wife.