Lonely soldier feels he's been forgotten

DEAR ABBY: I am a soldier in Afghanistan who is single with few friends, if you would even call them that. We work 24/7. No days off, no breaks.

It's not an easy life. You would not believe how nice it is to receive a message from family or friends.

Don't get me wrong, I have a loving family who support me and everything I do. When I first got here, I'd get a message from them at least once a week. But now that I am seven months into a 12-month deployment, it has been almost two months since I have gotten anything.

Now, I know if I reach out and send a message - which I have done - I'll get replies, but am I wrong for not wanting to have to do that? Is it wrong to wish that I could come in, relax and find a message waiting for me?

I know they love me and are busy with their lives, but sometimes it seems that I am forgotten.

It would be comforting to know someone is thinking about me. Any day now could be my last.

- Deployed Soldier

DEAR DEPLOYED SOLDIER: Because you're feeling lonely and forgotten, it's important to let your family and friends back home know how you feel. They are not mind readers.

You say you heard from them in the early months of your deployment. But have you reached out to them recently? If you haven't, they may assume you are being kept so busy that you are unable to stay in touch with them.

The surest way to get what you need is to communicate - and that applies to more situations in life than this one.