This is to all the "Moms" who have husbands overseas on this Mother's Day weekend. Not only military husbands, but civilian ones as well.

Been there ... done that. Well, not exactly. I wasn't a Military Mom, but my Mom sure was. Thirty plus years worth, and I can speak first hand - better than my Dad, I think - on just what she went through ... day-by-day.

Now, granted ... in the "Military Family", there's alot of help along the way (or at least, there USED to be), but with yours truly being the possible exception, this woman - my mother - raised some pretty damn good kids - three of us, all going our various which-ways - mine, of course, being baseball. Baseball practice ... baseball games ... new set of baseball cleats ... and "...don't you dare touch my baseball cards - I don't care if you ARE my mother!"

I suspect the career military wife learns "how to cope" with the multiple frequencies of Dad's absence -- but it's gotta' be the same as for a one-time separation, like what's going on now. And rarely have I ever seen a separated mom, with family in hand (or hands), coping with all of the responsibilities, headaches, and almost never talked-about loneliness, better, than the Military Mom.

Hats off to you, ladies - especially the one who gave me a "kick start" in my younger days. We, on the other side of the breakfast table ... and the ocean ... thank you.

Now ... Did someone say "Apple Pie" ???