Every time we pack up for another PCS move, I secretly wish I could load my friends right into the boxes. In the short two to three years we spend in each location, I always find a tight group of gals who I can both laugh and cry with. They love my children like their own. They accept my crazy, scheduled life. They come running to my house for the good times and the bad. And in either case, they always bring a bottle of wine. No matter how much I loved or hated the duty station, these women were the reason it was difficult to leave.
After a few weeks of moaning and groaning that it would never be the same, eventually, I find them again. Not replacements, but more lovely ladies who, inevitably, always remind me of the beloved friends I’ve left behind.
I always think, wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could all somehow live on the same street one day. I envision my friends from each location adoring each other as much as I adored each of them. I dream about walking between houses to share funny stories or grab an opinion on a new outfit. I salivate at the idea of a giant Bunco game with all my favorite military spouse friends from around the world.
The one time a friend and I tried to finagle orders to the same location, Germany, it backfired. We landed in Hawaii, she headed to Georgia. Not quite the fence-sharing scenario I had hoped for.
For now, we all share a front porch on Facebook and grab a quick visit when we can as we pass each other on the highway to a new duty station.
Sarah Young is one of those women. We met when our children attended preschool together at Fort Bragg, N.C. We bonded during our husband’s deployments when Sarah taught me that power tools were nothing to fear and then tutored me in the art of do-it-yourself kitchen renovation. Now we share the joys and the frustration of raising children on the autism spectrum.
If I could plan my perfect neighborhood, first on the must-have list would not be ample parking or wide sidewalks. Instead, the top of my list would include neighbors like Sarah.
Tomorrow, we will kick off the publication of her weekly blog on www.Salutetospouses.com, following Sarah and her three children as they navigate the joys and frustrations of her husband’s fifth deployment to the Mideast. Sarah’s blog will post weekly every Thursday.
I was devastated to leave her behind when my family left the mainland. I am thrilled to have her join us on Salute to Spouses.
I hope you come to adore her as much as I do. I’m certain, you will.
Comments
Thank You!
Thank you, Allison, for your kind words! We are all in this crazy Military Life together!!! It is a pleasure to share my deployment with you all! Strength and Courage...sby