What is a Military Wife?

The following is one of those floating emails, sent to me by Ted's cousin's wife--also a military wife. (I'm not sure who wrote it to give proper credit) I've seen various poems of what a Military Wife is, we're a different breed, I guess. ;)

For all our military (past and present) friends, you'll know this is spot on. For all our civilian friends, here's a little insight into us. Honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way.

What is a MILITARY Wife?

They may look different and each is wonderfully unique.

But what do they have in common? They have THIS IN COMMON!

Lots of 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 dependant', but she knows better.

She can balance a checkbook,

Handle the yard work,

Fix a noisy toilet,

Bury the family pet...

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 and somewhat hasty;

Leaps into

decorating,

leadership,

volunteering,

career alternatives,

churches

and friendships. She doesn't have 15 years to get to know people.

Her roots are short but flexible.

She plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after.

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 decide to quit

he's on-call for his country 24/7,

but for the military wife, he's the most unreliable guy in town!

His language is foreign:

TDY

PCS

TRE

OPR

ACC

DCA

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.

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 be cause she has lost her heart.

It was stolen from her by an amazing man

Who must put duty first

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.

And proud of it.