Civilian Married Couple:
You get an invitation to a party and check with your spouse to see if he/she has a conflict.

Military Married Couple:
You get an invitation to a party and check with your spouse to see if he/she will be in a conflict.
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Civilian Married Couple:
You care about the presidential election because you’re concerned about the Iraq war.

Military Married Couple:
You care about the presidential election because you’re concerned your spouse might have to go to Iraq.  Again.
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Civilian Married Couple:
Every year, you do something special for your wedding anniversary.

Military Married Couple:
Every year, it’s special if you get to spend your wedding anniversary together.
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Civilian Married Couple:
You ponder who you want in the delivery room when your first child is born.

Military Married Couple:
You ponder if your spouse will be in the delivery room when your first child is born.
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Civilian Married Couple:
Home is that place where you grew up, no matter how long you live somewhere else.

Military Married Couple:
Home is wherever you live with your spouse, no matter how long you’ve lived there.
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Civilian Married Couple:
You are annoyed with your spouse and wish he/she would go away.

Military Married Couple:
You are annoyed that your spouse has to go away.
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Civilian Married Couple:
Sleeping alone in your bed feels strange because it so rarely happens.

Military Married Couple:
Sleeping with your spouse in the same bed feels strange because it so rarely happens.
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Civilian Married Couple:
One of your rituals is to read the Sunday paper together.

Military Married Couple:
You read the Sunday paper alone and send the interesting articles to your spouse.
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Civilian Married Couple:
A long separation is a week.

Military Married Couple:
A long separation is eight months.
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Civilian Married Couple:
After a long separation, you’re thankful for your spouse and grateful he/she won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

Military Married Couple:
After a long separation, you’re thankful for your spouse but have to get ready for the next separation.
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Civilian Married Couple:
When your spouse is away, your friends take you out and keep you busy (because it happens so rarely).

Military Married Couple:
When your spouse is away, your friends don’t seem to notice (because it happens so often).
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Civilian Married Couple:
Your spouse e-mails just to say “hi.”

Military Married Couple:
Your spouse e-mails because it’s your only form of communication sometimes.
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Civilian Married Couple:
Your spouse calls to see if you need something from the store.

Military Married Couple:
Your spouse calls to see if you’d like something from Bahrain.
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Civilian Married Couple:
You take it for granted that your spouse will be there for anything you need.

Military Married Couple:
You are grateful anytime your spouse is there for something you need.
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(Jay will be home tomorrow after over seven months in Rhode Island.  In six and a half weeks he leaves again for a six month deployment.  I’m not looking for sympathy, but it would be nice not to hear, “It doesn’t seem like he’s been gone that long.” Thanks.)