Home Sweet Home

The GFE

Growing up an Air Force brat was definitely a wonderful experience. From Myrtle Beach, Virginia, Florida to Germany, I saw a lot during my formative years. I loved my childhood. I think I'm who I am because of it and I'm thankful every day for it. I'll admit I cried every time we moved (every four years) and told my father that he was ruining my life. In my defense I was in 8th grade and we had to move to Germany of all places. There were no malls in Germany--it was devastating at the time. I'll never forget how much worse it was to leave Germany after I graduated high school. I would have gladly traded any mall for the outdoor markets in Europe. I loved it and I loved the military (and my dad) for giving me that experience.

I remember after I moved into Littell Hall and went to my first floor meeting in college, we played an icebreaker where we had to say our name and where we were from. That, my friends, is the question that sends panic through the heart of any person who has a parent in the military. I know it sounds weird but I really had no answer. Did I say Germany because that's where I went to HS or did I say New Mexico because that's where my parents lived? Or was it NY because that's where I was born? I don't remember what I answered at that time. I just remember wondering what it was like to be born and raised in one place and being able to answer the "where are you from" question without thinking.

It's been many years since and I've come across this question often. I still don't like answering it in such limited terms. And the reason I've decided is because I feel bad for claiming any one place as my "hometown". I loved every place I've lived and all those places were important to a part of my life. I couldn't just claim one. It would be like choosing one handbag to carry forever. And we all know how I feel about that.

Today I went to the GFE ( Green Family Estate) to visit my mom. As I was pulling up to the house, I thought of how much I love to go over to visit. True, it's not one of the houses I grew up in and I've never actually lived here for more than a few weeks at a time (for vacations and between my own moves) but as I drove up to it, I thought of the people inside and I realized I've always known, exactly where I'm from.