They all marched in wearing what was considered proper attire for a coffee. High heels, skirt suits, full makeup, hats and gloves...Wow!! As they came in each placed a business card printed with their full name (ie: Mrs. Jeffrey A. Pederson) in a dish by the door. That would let all concerned be aware that she attended that particular coffee. The elegantly dressed women all sat around around a very ornate table and drank coffee from fine china. They then began chatting about how someone had heard that a women had tried to enter the commissary wearing pants...can you believe it? Pants!! Of course she was turned away at the door...as you would expect when you are not complying with the commissary/PX dress code of skirt or dress...and don't even think about coming with any of your children that might be under ten years of age. After the commissary gossip ended their conversation turned to an even more appalling rumor...an officer's wife they knew intended on getting a job!! GASP! How would she be able to attend her mandatory functions and what would that do to her husbands OER? (officer evaluation report) Gossip around the table was immediately stopped when the General's wife entered. All the women stood to acknowledge her entry. She told them to be seated and said she chose not to bring a flag with two stars for her place setting, as was customary, because she found that to be too pompous. (Big of her...) The General's wife then briefed the ladies on what upcoming functions must be attended and what attire would be expected. After the "General's wife" had spoken each woman took the time to briefly discuss their lives as military wives...how many different places they had lived, what wars their husbands had bravely fought in, etc. It was so enlightening to hear these woman, who had spent over 30 years as Army wives, share their experiences. The "coffee" was ended shortly thereafter because the ladies needed to get home to make certain dinner was on the table as their husbands arrived home from work. They got up, said their farewells and off they went.
Wow...talk about a change in times huh?! Sometimes as military wives we become consumed with our husband's job. It's hard not to when our lives literally revolve around it, but apparently nothing compared to how it used to be! I have to say, as I sat there watching this skit, I thought how so many things have changed and how so many of them will never change. Underneath all the pomp and circumstance these wives faced many of the same challenges we do...move after move after move, night after night in the field, deployments. They were able to face these challenges because they had each other...they had a bond that really only military spouses can understand...they had their military family. God Bless our troops and God Bless our military family...yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's.
