truth

A Military wife can be tough to describe.She is a southern belle, a northeastern Mets fan, a California 3rd generation re-cycler, a Pacific Islander.She is short or tall - a tomboy - a fashion diva - a physician's assistant - a Republican - a Democrat - a career gal - a home-schooler - a scrap-booker - an accomplished cellist - an auto mechanicWhat IS a Military Wife?They may look different and each is wonderfully uniqueBut this they have in common.lots of moving--moving far from homemoving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER of coursemoving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS housemoving curtains that won't fitmoving jobs and certifications and professional development hoursmoving away from friends moving toward new friendsmoving her most important luggage; her trunk full of memoriesoften waiting-waiting, 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 for dinner----AGAIN!They call her 'military dependent', but she knows bettershe 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, an ancient European village, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home'.She MAKES them all home.She is fiercely IN-dependentMilitary Wives are somewhat hastyThey 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 husbandshis 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 foreignTDY - PCS - OPR - ACC - BDUAnd 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 manwho puts duty firstwho longs to deploywho salutes the flagand whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is herMilitary husband, she will remain his Military wife.