The military wife is mostly girl, but there are times, such as when her husband is away and she is mowing the lawn or fixing a flat tire on a youngster’s bike that she begins to suspect that she is also boy. She usually comes in three sizes: petite, plump and pregnant. During the early years of her marriage, it is often hard to determine which size is her normal one. She had babies all over the world, and measures time in terms of places, as other women do in years. “It was at Guam that we all had the mumps…in Tokyo, Dan was promoted…” At least one of her babies was born or transfer was accomplished while she was alone. This causes her to suspect a secret pact between her husband and the military, providing for a man to be overseas or on temporary duty at all times such as these. The military wife is international. She may be an Iowa farm girl, a French mademoiselle, a Japanese doll, or an ex-nurse. When discussing service problems, they all speak the same language. She can be a great actress. To heartbroken children at transfer time, she gives an Academy Award performance: “Arizona is going to be so much fun! I hear they have Indian reservations, tarantulas, and even rattlesnakes!” But her heart is breaking with theirs. She wonders if this is worth the sacrifice. An ideal military wife has the patience of an angel, the flexibility of putty, the wisdom of a scholar and the stamina of a horse. If she dislikes money, it helps. She is sentimental, carrying her memories with her in an old foot locker. One might say she is a bigamist, sharing her husband with a demanding entity called “Duty”. When duty calls, she becomes No. 2 wife. Until she accepts this fact, her life can be miserable. Happy 4th of July! for all those military spouses, female and male, all heroes, who support their spouses who serve. God Bless!!
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:26:55 +0000