Army friends are, in my opinion, different from any other friends in the world. People always say you never stay best friends with the people you knew in high school – these are the people who have never moved in their lives. But, one of my very best friends has been my friend since 8th grade. She was there for me as I worked my way through the depression of a sibling’s death; she was there through my dad’s first deployment; she has helped me babysit younger sisters; she has been there during each moment of bruised and broken hearts. When I had a medical condition that required daily injections, she gave them to me when we went on camping trips. No matter what, I knew I was able to count on her.
Now, we’re well in to college, we’ve both been dating the same boys for two years, and more often than not it will be months if not years in between sightings of one another. I often go months without calling, texting, or even emailing her. But I know that if my heart is breaking, I can call her. Forget the fact that it is 11AM my time and 7AM her time, she’ll answer the phone and not be the slightest bit angry with me. And when those rare phone calls and visits occur, you would expect awkwardness but there is none to be found. Phone calls last hours and visits require an exchange of embarrassing stories from when we were fourteen. It’s as if we were apart no more than a moment.
I like to believe that she knows she can count on me as well – I was there during adolescent crushes, devastating fights with friends, her parents’ divorce, and more. If she needs me, I’m there as much as I can be…even if it is nothing more than a text that says “I love you.” Because I do; she’s like another sister to me and maybe there are tons of non-military children who feel the same way about their friends. But I believe there is something about being military brats that will bind us together even longer than most friendships. We’ve experienced a life that most people cannot comprehend and throughout it all our friendship has persevered. I talked to Stephanie just 5 days ago, for the first time in about three months. It was supposed to be a 15 minute phone call that lasted much longer and ended with “tell your family hi for me.” Because my family is her family and her family is mine.
Katie
Kids Outreach, Program Manager
Families United
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