Thursday, August 13, 2009

military brats

Growing up as a military brat I remember wishing I could stay where I was forever. If I had made good friends or liked our house I would get so upset when it was time to move again. There's nothing like walking into a new school where you don't know anyone and everyone else grew up together. You're scared and nervous and wonder if you'll ever make friends like you did the last time. I remember when I was in high school I swore I'd never marry someone in the military because I had been around them my entire life and I was ready for a change. But now that I'm married to a sailor and he's decided to make a career out of it I realize this is the life I know. I can't imagine staying in one place for more than 4 or 5 years. After about 3 I start to get antsy and feel like it's time to go.
It's crazy for me to imagine that some people live in the same place their parents grew up and their parent's parents and so on. Although that's the life I always envied now I realize I was pretty lucky to grow up the way I did. I would never have met the people I now call my closest friends and I wouldn't be the person I am today. This life style has helped me be independent and adventerous and has definitely allowed me to overcome some hard situations. Leaving good friends and places I call home have never been easy but meeting new people and making a new home for myself is an amazing experience.
Now that I have Cynthia I wonder if she will have the same feelings I do. I kind of like the fact that I will be able to relate to her in that way. I can take her on her first day to her new school and see her standing there nervous and scared and tell her "I know exactly how you feel because I've been there." and I can also tell her that it'll all be ok and be worth it in the end. And it comforts me to know that it may help her become a strong, independent person who knows who she is even if she doesn't know where she's going next.
We military brats are a special breed. We can't ever answer the question "Where are you from?" in one word or even one sentence but there's not much else we can't do. :)

3 comments:

  1. I'm also a Military Brat -- from the Post WWII years. Yet I still carry some of my past with me, even at this late age. I've written a book; will update it for re-release in April, including not only my personal experiences, but how my early years influenced me as an adult.
    Marilyn Celeste Morris
    Once a Brat, PublishAmerica and Amazon.com

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  2. I'm glad you enjoyed it Elaine... Love Ya, Dad

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  3. Elaine: Much has happened since I first found your blog and embarked on a project to update my book, Once a Brat, this time to include comments from other brats. Your post was so eloquent, and so descriptive of our shared heritage, I would like to ask you if I can use your remarks about being a military brat in my newest book, to be released in April or May of next year.
    If you are interested and willing to share your experiences, I would need to send you a Release form to sign (electronically) and a contributor's outline. You can email me directly at bratsproject@sbcglobal.net and then I will have your email addy to send you the information.
    I hope to hear from you soon. Brats are the Best!
    Marilyn Celeste Morris, Author, Once a Brat.

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