She is a southern belle, a northeastern mets fan, a California 3rd generation re-cycler, a Pacific Islander.
She is short or tall
a tomboy
a fashion diva
a physician's assistant
a Republican
a Democrat (yes, even THAT!)
A Military Wife is a career gal
a home-schooler
a scrap-booker
an accomplished cellist
an auto mechanic
What is a MILITARY Wife?
They may look different and each is wonderfully unique
But this they have 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
OPR
ACC
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.
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.
Jane Hubbard Hyde's 'My facebook' post:
What is an Air Force Wife? I wrote this polyphonal reading (i,e. "many voices") while stationed in Minot, North Dakota for a wive's "Induction Ceremony". Every line is inspired by real Air Force Wives, who along with other military spouses, are a breed of their own. We don't all want to be AFW's, but we are, defacto, and no matter how involved or not we are in "his" world there is much we have in common.
For the spouses who are men, my apologies for leaving you out of this piece. Your own sacrifices include ours plus some, and we are grateful for your brave and humble presence among us.
The reading is designed to be read by 4 ladies, reader's theater style. It has come back around to me on the internet, with changes people made along the way. Here is the original, for those who have asked.
If you're a military spouse, I hope it helps to know you are not alone. If you aren't military, I hope it gives you a window into our lives, and inspires you to reach out to that new neighbor who is "just temporary". You will be richer for it.
~jane
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