One of my favorite things about military life is meeting new people. I have friends from all over the world, and I have learned so much from them. We all have different personalities, hobbies, and interests.
Take me, for example. While I’m not the biggest fan of Target (I know, my basic card was revoked ages ago) and I’m not quite sure what all the fuss is about when it comes to beige designer bags, I will talk your ear off about my obsession with The Elder Scrolls. I might even try to translate anything you say into Klingon. I’d also be delighted to show you my Funko Pop and Pusheen plushie collections (no, I’m not kidding about that last one).
Heck, I might even roll for initiative anytime we want to do something new (and if I get less than five on my roll, then it’s a no-go from me, doll).
A lot of my friends don’t share my interests in video gaming, cosplay, anime, DnD, or my sci-fi fandoms – and that’s okay! However, I feel it’s important to acknowledge your friends’ interests if you want them to know how much you value them. So, I’ve compiled a list of things you can do to show your geeky milspouse friend how much you care about them:
- Ask them about their t-shirt. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to engage and excite your geeky friend. One of the ways we like to strike up a conversation amongst ourselves is by wearing our favorite shirt and seeing who says something about it. So try it out! My personal favorite of my geeky t-shirts is the one I have of Deadpool riding a unicorn (Wade Wilson is my favorite Marvel character of all time!) Even if you don’t know the characters/quotes on the shirt, ask where they are from. We will always be more than happy to tell you!
- Go see a geeky movie with them. I was so excited when a friend of mine asked me to go see the new Star Wars with her last year. We had a blast, and I think our friendship reached a new level as we discussed some of our theories for the next movie on the drive home. Even if you have never heard of the movie or the book/series that inspired it, if your geeky friend is excited about it, ask them to go. And don’t be afraid to ask questions about it! You will make their whole year just by being willing to go with them and learn about their fandoms.
- Go to a comic book convention with them . Contrary to popular belief, conventions are about more than just comic books. People come from all over to congregate with fellow geeks and have a good time. They can see new exhibits, go to panels, buy cool stuff, and – of course – show off their cosplays! Conventions are a lot of fun, and there are a lot of cool things to see. There is something for EVERYONE at a convention. So get tickets and go to a convention with your friend. You may just find something you like, too!
- Play a D&D campaign with them. If your friend is into Dungeons & Dragons, ask if you can play a campaign with them! Build a character, choose a campaign (or come up with one together!) and play! Who knows – you might find out that you love being a bad a** elf rogue, a true neutral human paladin, or even a chaotic evil Tiefling mage! Bonus – you’ll learn what it means to roll for initiative.
- Send ALL the memes. In this day and age, sending someone a meme is like sending someone a holiday card, only there’s no postage. I send people memes all the time that make me think of them, and it’s an easy and fun way to connect with others. If you see a geeky meme that makes you think of your friend, send it! It will always be appreciated.