Being the girlfriend of a man in uniform (or boyfriend of a uniformed woman) can be hard. There are times when it may not seem worth it, but at the end of that day, your feelings for each other outweigh the negative aspects of the sometimes long-distance relationship. Maybe the two of you aren't John and Savannah from the Nicholas Sparks classic, but life isn't as simple as a book or movie.

So, with that being said, there are just a few things I want to say to the boy serving our country with my heart in his pocket (sorry I'm a little cheesy).

Dear John (see what I did there?),

Thank you.

Seriously, thank you for everything.

Thank you for your service, your patience, your willingness to put up with me—which can be hard at times, and most importantly, thank you for your availability.

You may be thousands of miles away—on a good day—and a couple of countries away on other days, but no matter what, I can always count on you to be right where I need you to be: by my side.

I say this metaphorically, of course, given your presence—or lack thereof, but I mean it in the most heartfelt way.

Rain or shine, deployment or on base, you are here with me in the most important ways. Your kindness, compassion, understanding, and commitment to this relationship have not gone unnoticed.

I want you to know that even though you get on my last nerve, you’re not rich or famous, and you’re basically a grandpa, I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything. I would rather be with you, seeing you only 3-4 times a year, than be with someone else in close proximity who could never compare to you.

See, a lot of people don’t understand our relationship. Many question our trust, our commitment, our happiness; the list is endless.
My response: I don’t understand it either.

The beautiful thing about our relationship is that we don’t question anything. We take it for what it is and know that we’re crazy, and we embrace it.

Would it be easier with someone else who we could see everyday? Yes.
Would we be happier if we could physically be together more often? Yes.
But, would our trust and commitment to each other be greater without the distance separating us? No.

You’re my ‘military man,’ and I’m your ‘civilian woman,’ and nothing makes me happier than having that bond with you. Life can get crazy, turn upside down, and even make us feel like we’re losing our minds, but at the end of the day, you’ve got me, and I’ve got you. And that security is more than I could ever want in a relationship.

One day we will be able to wake up next to each other every morning, smell our awful morning breath, and be thankful we had this time apart because frankly, my dear, we will get sick of each other at some point. Your mother warned me about your bad habits.

Anyway, I just wanted to send my love to you from the other side of the country, and let you know that you are appreciated. I can’t wait to get tired of you one day, but for the time being, my heart will continue to grow fonder for you everyday.

Be safe, and before you know it, “I’ll see you soon then.”

Love,

Savan(n)ah