The June 22 edition of Spouse Calls was a column about the many empty houses in the lives of military families.
The wife of a retired military man wrote from England to remind me that these difficult experiences create wonderful memories: 
Dear Terri.
I so enjoyed your article in the Stars and Stripes. I too was a ARMY wife as we use to say in the British Forces. That was over forty years ago and I know the trauma of moving house after house. We had four children two boys and two girls. I went alone to Germany with two very young children.In those days by Train. Boat and train again in deep snow. My husband met us at the train Station to tell us he was off on a training excercise for two weeks that night. Welcome to Germany. But we loved it .When we moved six years later we had two more children.I never wanted to move again.But there were many more moves to come.It did affect the childrens schooling.But my eldest daughter took it all in her stride. And has ended up as head of a school here in England.You dont know how much I missed the life when it was all over. My husband at 77 years still lives Army . I miss the moving packing and repacking.Dont worry about the children.They do adapt.All ours have good careers but none wanted to follow their Dad.Best wishes to all Military wives. I wish it was me. -- S.M.