| Sending a care package to your loved one
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| | wait onboard a ship in the Persian Gulf
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| deployed overseas seems so easy, doesn't
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| | before being delivered to your spouse --
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| it? You just box up some cookies, attach
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| | if you don't want that package to be a
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| a sweet card, and it's ready to go,
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| | big, melted, gooey mess, don't send
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| right?If only it were that easy.Sending
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| | chocolate (or anything else that can
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| mail to ships/units overseas is tricky
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| | melt).Keep it Small:Keep in mind your
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| for many reasons (slow processing, mail
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| | loved one may not have much personal
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| limitations, etc.) but one of the most
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| | space in his overseas accommodations.
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| confounding is this: unless you've been
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| | Chances are good he has no place to store
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| deployed yourself, it's hard to know
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| | the giant smiley face pinata the kids
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| exactly what a Soldier or Sailor might
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| | made for him, and it will end up being a
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| want.After two deployments (and a picky
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| | burden rather than a pleasure. Things
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| husband), here's what I've learned about
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| | that can be stored easily (small drawings
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| military care packages.Try Not to
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| | and pictures, travel game sets) and
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| Embarrass:You might think sending a
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| | things that can be consumed (food,
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| life-size portrait of your toy poodle
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| | toiletry items) rate high on most
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| dressed in a ballet skirt is hilarious,
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| | Soldier's and Sailor's lists.Keep it
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| but chances are your husband won't be
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| | Personal:Remember your loved one has not
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| laughing when he has to carry the
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| | been home for a really long time -- what
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| cumbersome "pooch" back to his room and
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| | might seem silly or boring to you (an
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| past all his friends. You never know
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| | audio tape of the children fighting over
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| where your spouse will open his package,
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| | the Nintendo) will be like a little piece
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| or whom he'll be with. If you think he'll
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| | of home for your spouse. Send things to
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| be humiliated for anyone to know you sent
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| | remind your Soldier/Sailor of the things
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| him pink boxer shorts, either don't send
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| | he loves (his children, family, favorite
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| them or give him a heads up about the
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| | foods, taped reruns of his favorite TV
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| contents of the box. Similarly, if you're
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| | shows).Make it Fun:Deployed Soldiers and
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| sending something that might embarrass
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| | Sailors are working almost non-stop and
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| YOU (uhmmm....pictures), make sure you
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| | with little new scenery or change of
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| don't surprise your beloved, or he might
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| | pace. They don't have the option to go to
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| unknowingly cast your photos to a group
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| | Barnes and Noble for awhile to "get out"
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| of nosey friends peering over his
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| | and see something new. So bring the fun
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| shoulder as he opens the box.Don't Douse
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| | and the new to them. My husband always
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| the Box/Envelope with Perfume:Women think
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| | likes getting DVDs, CDs, books, and
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| this is wonderful, to spray perfume all
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| | sports magazines. He's also pointed out
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| over a man's gift or letter. And
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| | that it is hard to get a "real" American
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| honestly, our men probably like to
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| | newspaper when he is deployed, so the
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| receive the smelly treasures too. But
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| | local paper from home is always
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| when your husband has to carry that
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| | appreciated (especially the Sports
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| letter through three hallways and up four
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| | section). Remember these Soldiers and
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| ladders back to his room, he may not be
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| | Sailors are living without many of the
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| thrilled dragging a cloud of feminine
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| | comforts and conveniences of home.
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| perfume behind him. Remember, the
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| | Therefore, mail call is a welcomed
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| military is notorious for issuing its
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| | opportunity to receive something new and
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| members "call signs" or "nicknames" at
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| | different to look at....things they can't
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| their weakest, most embarrassing moment.
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| | get on the ship.Make it Frequent:Mail
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| If you don't want your husband to be
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| | Call can be the highlight of the day for
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| called "Christian Dior" for the rest of
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| | any deployed man or woman. Even something
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| his career, go easy on the scents.Steer
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| | as small as a crayon drawing from a
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| Clear of Chocolate:When you send
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| | two-year old can bring joy to your loved
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| something via an FPO address, you never
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| | one! Make it a point to send
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| know where it will wait in transit before
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| | something....even if it's just a
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| it gets to its destination. Your
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| | letter....as frequently as you can!
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| carefully prepared box of chocolates may
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