This morning I noticed some sort of perennial sprouting from the flower bed next to the driveway, and I realized that in Utah, Germany and Maryland there are tulips starting to sprout that
I planted. Bulbs I planted and cared for knowing I'd only see them bloom once, maybe twice, before we moved again.
And that made me think about two of my friends here who are moving soon and the gaping void that will leave at the end of summer.
In the military, we move. A lot. But that doesn't stop us from cultivating perennials
or friendships. We go into it knowing that although
we may only be here for a short time, the flowers and the friendships will keep blooming forever.
It reminded me of this poem someone once sent to me. I don't know the author, but truer words have never been written.
What is a MILITARY Wife?
They may look different and each is wonderfully unique, but this what they have in common.
Lots of moving---
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 trunk-full of memories.
Often waiting-
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 a '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 chocolate, 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.
His language is foreign:
TDY
PCS
EPR
LES
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.
The 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.
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military husband,
She will remain his Military wife.
While it was more fun than work.
