*You complain that your boyfriend/husband has worked late all week and have barely seen him---I look forward to the two weeks a year we spend together.
*You complain b/c he doesn't call you enough---My heart is thankful for the 15- second phone call I got last Tuesday in the middle of the night!
*You whine to you friends about how much you miss him already because he is on a two day trip with his parents---I haven't seen him for 7 months now.
*You don't fee like making love tonight because you are too tired---We will stay up all night because we don't know when it will be the last time.
*Your boyfriend/husband belongs to you---Mine belongs to the government.
*Your boyfriend/husband is training for his game next weekend---My boyfriend is trained to kill.
*It's just not practical for you to drive an hour to see him every weekend during school---He spends $700 dollars on a plane ticket just to see me 2 days.
*You hate hanging up the phone when talking to him---My heart breaks because I won't talk to him for another 10 days.
*You complain that he doesn't take enough time out of his life for you---My man has to get up in the middle of the night to talk with me because of the time difference. He doesn't complain.
*Your man is in a bad mood from not sleeping much this week---My man ran 10 miles this morning at 4 in the morning and has a full day of work ahead of him.
*Your boyfriend/husband can call in sick when he is tired or not feeling well---My man works no matter what.
*You don't trust him so you follow him places to see if he is telling the truth---I have no choice but to trust him and even then I trust him with my life.
*You don't like him talking so sexually with his friends---My boyfriend/husband has to chant it in drills.
*You check your phone, see you missed a call from him, and decide to call him back when you aren't so busy---I see a missed a call and cry because I don't know when he can call again.
*You might save a cute voice message from him---I save them all b/c it helps me to remember what his voice sounds like.
*Being apart for a month to you seems daunting---A month apart for me is a wish that can't come true.
*You wouldn't change schools to be close to him---I have to move to another country to be with him.
*You have every part of him memorized---I study pictures so I don't forget what he looks like.
*You take your time together for granted---We don't.
*Your cell phone bill was high this month from talking too much---He pays 20 cents a minute to call me.
*You love that fancy necklace he bought you---I refuse to take his dog tags off, and not a day goes by that I dont have them on.
*You say you miss him---Times that by 20.
You can't understand how much it hurts, but you also can't understand how incredible it feels to finally be with them. And for all those girls out there thinking, "Well it was his choice to join." Your right, it was. And it's guys like him that keep us free and safe while they were at war. It might have been his choice to give up staying at home with the ones he loves, but it's that choice that makes him our hero... America's hero!
For all of you who wake up in the morning, lay there for a few moments, trying to swallow the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach as you wonder where your soldier is, or how he's doing...this is for you.
For all of you who start a countdown the minute he leaves, and continue to until he is back in your arms again...this is for you.
For all of you who tear up everytime "Far Away" comes on the radio, or who press repeat when "Come Home Soon" plays in their car...this one's for you.
For all of you who see Army billboards, ads in the paper, or commercials on TV and next notice the tears rolling down your cheeks, this is for you.
This is for you.
I am one of you too. This is for us.
For all the times we sleep with our phones on the loudest possible volume, just as to not miss the call that just MIGHT come...
For all the times we roll our eyes when another girl is depressed because she hasn't seen her guy in a week...
For all the times we hear our soldier's name mentioned out loud, and are momentarily frozen...in a trance...in love.
For all the late nights that we spend alone, cuddling with our stuffed animals, wearing our soldiers army sweatshirts and sweatpants, and clutching the precious dog tags around our necks...
This one's for us.
We may feel weak on the inside, but on the outside we're strong.
We may be drowning in tears on the inside, but on the outside, we are a rock.
We may want to crawl in bed and sleep until our man comes home, but instead, we get up and go on with our daily lives with our men in our hearts.
We may feel like we're slowly dying with each day we spend apart from our men, but instead, we put one foot infront of the other, and take each day as it comes.
We are strong, and we are proud.
We have more love in our hearts than we ever thought possible, and for this, we are thankful. We are thankful for our men and also for each other. We are Army gals, and we lean on each other.
Alone we are weak, but together, we are strong. We help each other, and we survive.
To all you Army gals out there, hold your head up and be proud.
We are connected, ALWAYS.
It says army gals, but its really for all military branches.
