PCS

A PCS, or permanent change of station, is the military's fancy way of saying that someone is moving. The acronym is used as a noun or a verb; for example, saying that someone is "PCSing" is fairly common. PCS orders can be a wonderful thing: a new unit, a chance to travel, a fresh start, a fun adventure. Other times it means leaving behind a place that has become home. We are hoping that John doesn't get any PCS orders until I finish nursing school. It's kind of stressful knowing that at any moment, he could be ordered to a new duty station. In order to maintain sanity, I have repressed the worrisome thoughts of having to PCS in the middle of nursing school. However, PCS orders are affecting me in a way that I hadn't given much thought to. This month, three of my good friends have moved or are moving due to PCS orders. 

Often times these types of orders come down at the end of a deployment. For those of us back home, deployment can be a time of new or strengthened friendships. Part of me wants to always make a clear distinction between who I am and what my husband does for a living. Because of that, I resisted surrounding myself with other Army wives. However, there were times during deployment when no friend married to a civilian could understand what I was going through and I simply wanted to be with someone who knew what it was like. I finally began to open up to the idea of having friends who were also married to soldiers. Most of the friends I made, although many were from different brigades, had a spouse that was also deployed. This led to many unforgettable girls nights and stories that I most certainly will not tell my grandchildren. The friends that were made over glasses of wine, junk food, loud music, laughter, and tears during a tough and emotionally charged time are difficult to part with. Sonja, Erica, and Heather, I miss you already! Thank you for being just the kind of friends I needed at the perfect time. I hope your new places have a spare bedroom. :)