Just when I thought our experiences were unique....
July 20, 2009|
Almost 20 years ago, when I became a new military bride, my mother gave me a clipping out of an old Wives Club newsletter from way back when she was a new military bride. Recently, while trying to sift through all the clutter that has gathered in the house in the few years we've been here, I found the poem. I was shocked at how similar it all was to what we all endure today! So, I thought I'd share my blast from the past....
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The plumbing backed up.
The dryer caught fire.
The family car
Has a very flat tire.
The children...all six
Are swelled up with the mumps
The heater keeps cooling
And goes thumpety-bumpp.
The washing machine
Like a cup runneth o'er.
The dog's nipped the M.P.'s
Who were checking the doors.
Got mail!....from the bank,
The polite but firm sort.
Says the checking account
Has developed a short.
The milspouse is frazzled.
Her cool is all shot.
When things should go smoothly,
That's when they do not.
Situation is normal
Tho' it seems a'wry
It's just SOP
When Dad's TDY!
Reprinted from "Lady Seymour", Seymour Johnson AFB - sometime in the 60's
How's that for archived "Gremlins"!?!?!?
That's awesome! Love it!
Posted by: Marine Wife | 07/20/2009 at 22:02
Hysterical! I'm so glad that you shared. I'm definitely sharing that!
Posted by: She of the Sea | 07/20/2009 at 22:23
I adored it! An oldie but a goodie. ^_~
Posted by: Penny | 07/21/2009 at 00:01
wow, lots of years of experience shared within this post.
I'm leaving this post understanding things will be fine.
Thank you always love lots of years of wisdom
Posted by: name must not be blank | 07/21/2009 at 09:32
What is a MILITARY Wife?
They may look different and each is wonderfully unique, but this what they have in common.
They have THIS IN COMMON!
Lots of 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 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 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 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 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 foreign:
TDY
PCS
MOS
FOB
ACU
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 because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man...
Who puts duty first.
Who longs to deploy.
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.
Posted by: Allison | 07/21/2009 at 13:03
Wow. Thanks for sharing that. I was struck by the term "milspouse" because, for whatever reason, I thought that was a relatively modern term. Guess not....
Posted by: Andi | 07/21/2009 at 18:38