Things I've learned, recently

(1) No matter how infrequently you hear from your deployed spouse, there's always someone who's heard from their own spouse even less. And, those spouses with husbands who are able to call 4 times a day - and then complain? Yes, I don't like them very much.

(2) When parents and friends ask you for "suggestions" of what to send to the deployed Soldier downrange, be prepared for them to send EVERY.SINGLE.THING. Multiple times. Because, you know, you sent the list to several different people.

(3) It's really hard to share phone calls and online time with the mother-in-law or the best friend - but I try really hard not to complain about it. I understand they need to hear him, too (and he needs to hear them). But sometimes, I want to be selfish about it.

(4) When your uncle tells you he's been on a business trip for a week, and that it was "LONG" - sometimes the proper response really is: "My husband's on a 15 month 'business trip.' Did you have to carry a gun to the bathroom, or worry about bombs on the side of the road on your trip? Don't tell me a week is long."

(5) That the little "knock" sound that comes from Yahoo! Messenger "friends" coming online is one of the most welcome sounds in the world - because even if it's not my husband, it is someone who most probably isn't going to piss me off with comments they don't intend on being mean, but usually turn out being that way.

(6) And as wonderful as those "Soldier Prayer" forwards and such are... a nice 2 sentence email will do so much more for me than the "forward this to 15 people to show your support for the troops!"