I Don't....

When people hear you are an Army Wife, the first question is usually, "oh, is he here with you?" When you say no, he's deployed, the conversation can go a couple of different ways. Occasionally you get the hateful remarks with reference to "fighting another mans war" and those are disheartening, but I don't typically take them personally. But, for the most part, the response is something to the effect of
"oh wow, how are you, are you ok, and how do you do it?"

The response, to these questions are pretty well canned responses at this point.
I'm good, it's rough, and it's not easy". Although I am grateful for their concern, regardless of how I sound, there are just not many answers you can give to these questions.

The most interesting statement, I've heard is how do you stay so strong? While again, I do welcome a compliment of this nature, there is still only one response....

I Don't.

People look at me and think I am harsh, rigid and sometimes downright hard. Maybe I am. I appear strong, because I don't have a choice. Now I'm not saying I can't hold my own, but I have my moments just like everybody else. I'm not an emotional person, but I do have emotions. I prefer, movies with lots of explosions, action, and excitement, but even I like the occasional love scene.

I'm not as "strong" as some would like to believe. In all honesty, I think I hit the wrong side of crazy a long time ago. But, I do the only thing I can, I tell the voices to shut up or I'll stab them with a Q-Tip. (seriously, just kidding...I don't condone violence)

So the better question to ask Army wives, is simply.....do you have enough Ammo? When is your follow up appt? and Do you know what day it is???

If she says yes, gives you a date, and tells you the right day (with in 2-3 days of accuracy) then its safe to proceed with the conversation.

If she says No, I don't have one, and its the day I pistol whip your ass with my unloaded handgun, there's a good chance you should discontinue this conversation, and possibly relocate.