Military spouses need battle buddies too ...

Yesterday I accompanied a friend to her husband's deployment ceremony. Like mine, her husband will spend the next 15-months in support of the Global War on Terror.

She and I have become closer, I think, in the last few months as the reality of our husband's deploying again became real. We clicked right from the start having much in common ... both military spouses, career women, no children, but owners of very spoiled special-needs pets. Our husbands are both in roles of leadership.

Even more so, we both accepted the same job - in different units - recently.

During the last deployment I was busy with multiple friends, helping them deal with the seperation, though I never showed my true feelings to any of them. In the past few months I have come to learn how shallow and fragile those friendships were, which for a while left me feeling cheated. I was prepared to face this deployment in more low-key manner, taking care of me. But in talking with her, especially the last few months, I've learned that while in the last deployment I may have had many distant friendships, having one that I can feel free to be myself and not feel judged is what I should have been focused on.

I've come to realize the importance of a "battle buddy," someone who may see my deepest fears and still be there. The next 15-months may be long, but I know I won't be alone.

Until our next cup of tea ...