The Military Wife

They may look different and each is wonderfully unique

But this is what they have in common:lots of 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 housemoving curtains that won't fit
moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours
moving away from friends moving toward new friends
moving or storing her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories

often waiting---
waiting for housing
waiting for orders
waiting for deployment
waiting for reunion
waiting for phone calls
waiting for the new curtains to arrive
waiting for him to come home dinner.

They call her 'military dependent', but she knows better:

She can balance a checkbook,handle the yard work, and 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, the deep south or overseas and learns to call 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, OPR, ACC, BDU
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.

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 salutes the flag,
whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military husband,
She will remain his Military wife.