A Surprise in Civilianland

I spent the past few days in civilianland, a place where there is no military community. Funny how I sleep, eat and breathe military life when I'm at home or in other military communities, but when I find myself in civilianland, I don't expect to find any connections to militaryland. And when I do, it's always a welcome surprise.

I was at a department store in civilianland this weekend. As I was standing in the shoe department, I glanced over towards the cosmetics department, and lo and behold, there stood a young woman wearing an "Army Wife" t-shirt. I immediately felt connected to this stranger. My first instinct was to rush over to her and say, "Hey, I'm an Army wife, too," but then I thought about it a little more and decided that might be a little lame. Not to mention, kind of stalkerish. And you know how well my stalkerish behavior in civilianland has worked out for me in the past. Not very well. In the end, I didn't approach her, but I should have. I would love to have a milspouse approach me in civilianland, and I bet she would have, too. But, I'll never know because I wimped out.

Ah well, there's always next time....   

Comments

[LAW]

If I'd been that wife, I'd have been first surprised then happy to meet another member of my extended family.

LAW

[Penny]

I'm also constantly on the look out for military wives .. I haven't found any in civilianland yet but after reading LAW's comment, it gives me more confidence to approach one (should I find her!) and hope she feels the same way too :)

[Tamber]

I wish that I knew SOMEONE in the Army family. I am a new wife, who's husband was set to come home for good Oct 10, 2008, and for some reason, he is missing either in northern iraq or possibly afghanistan, i am trying to find out. After 3 other delays this year, now this! i am frantic, scared....we were supposed to move back east once he arrived, but now i am sitting, alone, in an empty house with 1 chair, 2 dogs, 2 birds, a few boxes, no job (i was leaving), no money....does anyone see a problem here?? i have not heard from my husband in 49 days as of today, and all i can do is cry, sometimes hysterically - i feel as if i am going crazy...the civilian friends i have cannot relate, and do not understand what i am going through. hell, i don't understand what is happening, and i am not getting any help finding where my husband is now. i have a diplomat who is a long time friend of my husband, who is in northern iraq now looking for him with some help. what do i do?? who can i ask?? who can help me?? i am desperate and frantic (can anyone of you tell??). i feel as if i am dying inside.
i can't eat, or sleep at all...i walk 6 miles a day (doesn't help), i pace in my empty, echoing house, i cry in public, i cannot listen to music it makes me cry worse,or movies, everything bothers me. my family is out of state, and to top it off, i have a stepson that i have not been able to meet yet (due to all delays this year)..I am so very worried about him...my husband has never been out of contact with everyone this long...any ideas/recommendations anyone has i would greatly appreciate. i am so very very sad and scared. thanks everyone for anything you can offer.......

[SeabeeSeniorWife]

As someone who lives in civilian land, I would love for another military wife to introduce herself. The connections here are always so few that it's always welcomed to talk with someone from the military community.

[MLC]

Tamber, you need to contact your husband's command ASAP!!! Ladies, anyone can help this military spouse above???

[Reasa]

Andi when I was a NG wife in civilianland I hingered for another milspouse to come talk to me. I had all the read white and blue stuff, the I love my soldier sticker and his dog tags around my neck at all times. Not once was I approached and I never saw another spouse. That little connection is the best.

[Erin]

I live in civilianland as well and I grasp on to every connection I can! It's cheesy, but I always look at drivers who have military stickers on their cars. I thank veterans who are wearing hats proclaiming their status. I smile at students wearing military related t-shirts.

It's definitely going to be interesting when I go to the BIG militaryland this holiday season to visit DH. I will be one in millions.

[Andi]

Tamber - Like MLK said, you should definitely check with your husband's command. That would be the place to start. If something were wrong, they "should" have been in touch with you by now.

[Homefront Six]

Tamber ~ Andi is right. You need to speak with your husband's command immediately. Keep in mind that, if anything were truly wrong, they *should* have already been in contact with you. Have you been in contact with either his command or your Family Readiness Group during this deployment? The reason I ask is that, if you have, then you know they have the correct contact information for you.

Forty-nine days is a long time to be out of contact, especially if he was due back in early October. Do you know if his company/unit is already back?

My prayers are with you that you get this figured out and that things are ok.