The Waiting Place

There is a book written by Dr. Seuss called, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It really is quite remarkable how this children’s book can both entertain the smallest child and speak volumes to adults, both young and old, and it can also be applicable to military spouses stuck in the waiting place.

Over the years, it’s become a graduation staple, full of autographs by every positive and influential teacher the student had since preschool. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read the pages of this book or if it’s been a while, I strongly recommend that you seek it out, even more often. What I believe you’ll find are comforting words that can inspire you to do, act, and be as you ought to be.

Below I’ve taken some pages of the book and altered the lines in order to make them more applicable to military spouses. I hope you enjoy.

The Waiting Place . . .

. . . for spouses just waiting.
Waiting for a partner to know
Or friends to come, or a plane to go
Or the mail to come, or the troops to go
Or the phone to ring, or the good to show
Or waiting around for a Yes or No
Or waiting for the wind to blow.
All of us are just waiting.
Waiting for a job to bite
Or waiting for the time when things are right
Or waiting around for homecoming night
Or waiting, perhaps, for that special date
Or a chat to start, or a Needed Break
Or a change of pace, or just one more dance
Or to see his face, or Another Chance.
All of us are just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.

Because we are more than his spouse, their parent, and the only adult around to take care of things. We have our own lives, too, separate from theirs. We have gifts, we have talents, we have interests, and we have needs. We matter, too, and not just as someone else’s rock, but as our own person. We have goals, we have dreams, we have ability, and we also have the means.

Who said that you had to choose? Who said that you could not also choose You?

Stop waiting for someone else’s schedule, leave, or career to change, start, or end to fully enjoy your time left here on earth. Nothing is promised, nothing is guaranteed. How things are today, they will not be the next year or the one after that. This is your life right now. Grab it, lead it, create it, design it, and most importantly, believe in it. Believe in you. I do, and I have. I have waited and waited and waited, but no more.

My time is now and yours is now too.

“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!”

Dedicated to my mother, Maria. Our family’s first big Mountain Mover. Happy Birthday, Ama. I love you.